According to a US prosecutor, the US asked South Korea to arrest Ban Ki-sang, brother of former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon [UN Profile], for his involvement in a bribery scheme [Reuters report] to sell a Vietnamese building complex. Specifically, Ban Ki-sang was allegedly involved in bribing a Middle East nation official in a scheme to facilitate the sale of a Vietnamese skyscraper from Keangnam Enterprises Co. Ltd. to the sovereign wealth fund of the Middle Eastern nation. To this point, US prosecutors have said Ban Ki-sang, a member of the South Korean construction firm Keangnam Enterprises., has yet to be arrested. Despite the US prosecutors’ request, the South Korean government said it has yet to receive a formal request. Ban Ki-moon, whom some believe may be a candidate in the upcoming South Korean presidential election, made a public apology for his brother, saying he has “absolutely no knowledge of this case.” In addition to his brother’s involvement, Ban Ki-sang’s son, Joo Hyun Bahn, along with one other individual, have already been charged and plead not guilty in the case.

Though he has not been implicated in the scandal, the reports will likely serve as an embarrassment for Ban Ki-moon. Though he has been evasive [NYT report] about his intentions, Ban Ki-moon, whose second term as Secretary-General ended in December, is widely expected [BBC report] to run for president in his native South Korea. The presidency is expected to become vacant following the impeachment [JURIST report] of current president Park Guen-hye in December.