A former vice economic minister with close ties to President Lee Myung-bak was arrested Monday on charges of taking about 100 million won (US$88,000) in bribes to influence the award of a construction project five years ago, court and prosecution officials said. Park Young-june, 52, was detained after the Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant for him following a day-long hearing and document review. The court accepted the argument by prosecutors that the defendant could destroy evidence if allowed to remain free.