Former presidential aide detained in widening corruption probe

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details, arrest warrant sought for separate businessman)
SEOUL, April 7 (Yonhap) -- A former presidential aide was taken into custody
Tuesday as prosecutors dug deeper into a corruption case involving 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, over allegations that he took hundreds of millions of won 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 at his house in southern Seoul.
Investigators also searched his home and private office.
The Taekwang chairman has been at the center of the unfolding bribery scandal, in
which billions of won were allegedly 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 the buyout of an ailing securities firm from a state-run
company in 2006.
Roh Gun-pyong's son-in-law is also suspected of taking illegal funds worth US$5
million from the businessman, and investigators suspect the money was supposed to
go to the former president.
Aides close to the former president have confirmed the transaction took place but
said it was made as a legitimate investment.
Jung is suspected of having organized the transaction between Park and Roh
Gun-pyeong's son-in-law.
In late March, Rep. Lee Kwang-jae, a top confidant to the former president, was
also placed under arrest for allegedly receiving a total of 180 million won from
Park between 2004 and 2008.
Prosecutors also said they plan to again summon Park Kwan-young, a former house
speaker, for allegedly taking illegal funds from the Taekwang chairman. He was
questioned on Monday but has denied all accusations.
Meanwhile, prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for Kang Keum-won, chairman of
Changshin Textile Co., to further question him over the nature of his investment
into a development project in Bonghwa, the former president's rural hometown in
South Gyeongsang Province.
Along with Park Yeon-cha, Kang is also known as one of Roh's major financial
sponsors. He was summoned and questioned by prosecutors on Monday.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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