Payment to Roh`s in-law made for investment purposes: aide

BUSAN, April 1 (Yonhap) -- A close confidant to former President Roh Moo-hyun
said on Wednesday that the US$5 million delivered from a disgraced businessman to
an in-law of Roh's was made for legitimate investment purposes, playing down
allegations of bribery.
In the latest development of an explosive scandal, a son-in-law of Roh's older
brother, Gun-pyeong, was found to have accepted the money from Park Yeon-cha.
Park, head of shoe manufacturer Taekwang Industry Co., is at the center of an
ongoing corruption probe and was indicted last year on tax evasion and bribery
charges.
Gun-pyeong is on trial for allegedly helping Park bribe a former head of a
state-run firm to buy a failing securities company at a bargain price in 2006.
A heated controversy has erupted over the nature of the transaction, with media
reports suggesting the money may have been intended to be used as Roh's
"retirement fund." Yeon Chul-ho, the son-in-law, had previously worked as a
director at a software company founded by Park, according to the reports.
"The money was delivered legitimately for the purpose of overseas investments,
including some in Vietnam and the Philippines. As of now, $2 million has been
invested (overseas) and the rest remains unused," said Moon Jae-in, a former
chief of staff to Roh.
Moon, a practicing attorney in Busan, said that the use of the money has been
reported to Taekwang on a regular basis and that profits from Yeon's investments
were offered as dividends.
Moon also played down suspicions that the money was intended for bribery, arguing
that it was delivered in the lame-duck days of the Roh administration.
"I can't understand how (the investment) can be perceived as part of an
influence-peddling scandal. One should be able to reap some form of favor from
such play, but the investment was made near the end of the administration," said
Moon.
Moon, however, said that the former president seemed to be embarrassed by the
fact that one of his relatives has been associated with Park in business deals.
Park has been at the center of an unfolding bribery scandal in which billions of
won were reportedly given to political heavyweights and former government
officials in exchange for various favors.
A number of key legislators from both the ruling and main opposition parties, as
well as a former aide to Roh, have been investigated or arrested on suspicion of
receiving bribes from Park.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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