Ha Jong Sun, former attorney and president of Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Co. became the second suspect arrested in a week as a result of a probe into the 2003 sale of Korea Exchange Bank to Lone Star Funds.

Lee Kang Won, former Korea Exchange Bank head Lee Kang Won, was the first of the two suspects arrested in connection with the probe that has stalled Lone Star's efforts to sell Korea Exchange Bank for a profit of more than $4 billion.

Sun was apprehended by South Korean prosecutors and taken into custody on a warrant that was issued by the Seoul Central District Court, according to prosecutor, Chae Dong Wook. The court issued the warrant for Ha, a former attorney, because he tried to tamper with evidence.

The Seoul Central District Court refused to issue an arrest warrant for Byeon Yang Ho, the former government official. Byeon's warrant was rejected because prosecutors failed to prove he would destroy evidence or flee, the Korean-language news agency said. Chae, of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, declined to comment on the court's reasons.

Prosecutors are investigatingt to find out whether the U.S. buyout firm bought the countries fifth-largest bank illegally.