Former presidential aide detained in widening corruption probe

SEOUL, April 7 (Yonhap) -- A former presidential aide was taken into custody Tuesday as the prosecution dug deeper into a corruption probe centered on a major financial backer of former President Roh Moo-hyun.

Officials at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office said they were questioning Jung
Sang-moon, Roh's former aide for administrative affairs at the presidential
office of Cheong Wa Dae, over allegations that he took hundreds of millions of
wons from Park Yeon-cha, chairman of shoemaker Taekwang Industry Co.
Park was arrested last December on tax evasion and bribery charges.
Jung was taken into custody by prosecutors from his house in southern Seoul.
Investigators also searched through his home and his private office.
The Taekwang chairman has been at the center of the unfolding bribery scandal in
which billions of won were reportedly given to political heavyweights, including
Roh's confidants and former government officials, in exchange for various favors.
Roh's older brother, Roh Gun-pyeong, has been indicted on charges of colluding
with Park to broker a buyout of an ailing securities firm from a state-run
company in 2006.
Roh Gun-pyong's son-in-law is also under suspicion of taking illegal funds worth
US$5 million from the businessman, and investigators suspect the money was
destined for the former president. Aides close to Roh have confirmed the
transaction but said it was made as a legitimate investment.
Jung is suspected to have organized the transaction between Park and Gun-pyeong's
son-in-law.
In late March, Rep. Lee Kwang-jae, a top confidant to the former president, was
placed under arrest for allegedly receiving a total of 180 million won from Park
between 2004 and 2008. A former parliament speaker was also questioned on Monday
for allegedly taking illegal funds from Park but has denied all accusations.