South Korea's foreign ministry has temporarily suspended Kim Eun-seok, the country’s ambassador for energy and resources, over a suspected share-rigging case involving a diamond mine in Cameroon. South Korean prosecutors plan to issue a summons next week to key suspects in a scandal that has implicated current and former governmental officials.

"In connection with the Cameroon diamond mining case, the ministry separated Ambassador Kim from his work last week…Any legal disciplinary measure against Ambassador Kim would depend on the outcome of the inspection by the Board of Audit and Inspection,” said a country spokesman, referring to Kim Eun-seok’s suspension.

South Korean diplomats and officials are allegedly responsible for manipulating share prices in regards to the development of the mine in Cameroon and for exaggerating diamond reserve figures in a press release that ultimately driving up the company’s stock shares.

In 2010, Cameroon had authorized the Korean company CNK International to develop a diamond mine in the African country and had issued the company a 25-year exploitation permit.

Kim Eun-seok, South Korea’s Ambassador for energy and resources, allegedly helped relatives and close colleagues buy company shares before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade announced the deal in December 2010—resulting in large profits for those involved. The announcement exaggerated the mine’s diamond reserve figures. As a result, CNK’s shares skyrocketed in the weeks following the ministry’s announcement, and Kim’s brother and his sister-in-law reportedly made huge profits by selling off their stocks. The scandal has also aroused much speculation about South Korea’s ruling elite. There are suggestions that Park Young-joon, one of the close confidants of South Korea’s president who visited Cameroon in an apparent bid to facilitate the deal, may be a key player in the plot as well. A former senior official at the Prime Minister’s Office and other officials are also apparently involved.

 "As minister, I am unable to describe my feelings about our ministry having once again caused concern to the people and being denounced by the public due the inappropriate work conduct and actions of certain members of our ministry," said a high ranking official.

A spokesman for CNK has denied that the company manipulated share prices. And Kim Eun-seok has claimed he is innocent of any wrongdoing. Prosecutors are pursuing the case aggressively, however.

 "Given the gravity of the matter, [we] plan to finalize the allocation of the case today and promptly start an investigation," said an official at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.