The military prosecution on Tuesday filed for a warrant to arrest the son of a provincial governor on charges of physically and sexually abusing his subordinates in the military, the Army headquarters said.

The 23-year-old Army corporal, who is the eldest son of Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil, has been under investigation for allegedly beating his subordinate in the stomach and face on a number of occasions since April at their barracks, according to Army officers.

He is also accused of sexually harassing another junior soldier, touching him inappropriately, they said. All names were withheld.

"The military prosecutors of the Sixth Infantry Division filed for the arrest warrant against Nam on charges of assaulting and sexually harassing his subordinates," an Army officer said.

Their military unit is located in Cheorwon, some 88 kilometers north of Seoul, in Gangwon Province.

"The military court will review its legality at 5 p.m. today to make a decision," he added. 

The governor, who is also a five-term lawmaker with the ruling Saenuri Party, apologized for his son's alleged wrongdoing in a press conference on Sunday.

The case is the latest in a series of violent incidents involving enlisted soldiers in recent months. In April, an Army private first class died after allegedly having long suffered physical, mental and sexual abuse by senior colleagues, prompting the Army chief to step down and the military to come up with measures to eradicate ills at the barracks. (Yonhap)