ID :
30286
Fri, 11/14/2008 - 18:36
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/30286
The shortlink copeid
Roh willing to face questioning over removal of presidential documents
By Yoo Cheong-mo
SEOUL, Nov. 14 (Yonhap) -- Former President Roh Moo-hyun said Friday he is willing to appear before prosecutors for questioning over his allegedly illegal removal of a set of classified documents from the presidential office before the end of his term in late February.
Roh's remarks, released through his personal Web site, came after the prosecution
said it was considering sending prosecutors to his retirement home at a farming
village near the port city of Busan to question him about the document leak case.
"If the prosecution intends to question me, they don't have to travel all the way
to my home. I'll come to the prosecution," Roh said in a brief message posted on
his Web site.
Roh and his aides were accused of taking all of the presidential office Cheong Wa
Dae's electronic documents produced during the former president's 2003-2008 term
to his private home early this year.
The files are said to include highly sensitive materials on policy regarding
North Korea's nuclear weapons program, personnel background files, the operations
of the National Intelligence Service and defense and alliance strategies
involving the U.S.
Under current law, it is illegal for individuals or organizations to possess
documents related to the presidential office. Only the state is allowed to keep
classified and other written documents generated by Cheong Wa Dae.
Following a protracted confrontation with the incumbent Lee Myung-bak government,
Roh returned the documents to the state in July.
"By returning the controversial documents to the government in July, Roh already
admitted he was fully responsible for the incident," said Kim Kyung-soo, an aide
to Roh.
"But the prosecution seems still determined to open an investigation into the
case. It is questionable why prosecutors want to investigate the former president
under such circumstances. Whatever the prosecution's real intention may be, Roh
doesn't have any intention to be treated preferentially by the prosecutors," said
the aide.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Nov. 14 (Yonhap) -- Former President Roh Moo-hyun said Friday he is willing to appear before prosecutors for questioning over his allegedly illegal removal of a set of classified documents from the presidential office before the end of his term in late February.
Roh's remarks, released through his personal Web site, came after the prosecution
said it was considering sending prosecutors to his retirement home at a farming
village near the port city of Busan to question him about the document leak case.
"If the prosecution intends to question me, they don't have to travel all the way
to my home. I'll come to the prosecution," Roh said in a brief message posted on
his Web site.
Roh and his aides were accused of taking all of the presidential office Cheong Wa
Dae's electronic documents produced during the former president's 2003-2008 term
to his private home early this year.
The files are said to include highly sensitive materials on policy regarding
North Korea's nuclear weapons program, personnel background files, the operations
of the National Intelligence Service and defense and alliance strategies
involving the U.S.
Under current law, it is illegal for individuals or organizations to possess
documents related to the presidential office. Only the state is allowed to keep
classified and other written documents generated by Cheong Wa Dae.
Following a protracted confrontation with the incumbent Lee Myung-bak government,
Roh returned the documents to the state in July.
"By returning the controversial documents to the government in July, Roh already
admitted he was fully responsible for the incident," said Kim Kyung-soo, an aide
to Roh.
"But the prosecution seems still determined to open an investigation into the
case. It is questionable why prosecutors want to investigate the former president
under such circumstances. Whatever the prosecution's real intention may be, Roh
doesn't have any intention to be treated preferentially by the prosecutors," said
the aide.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)
