Prosecution seeks to arrest ex-presidential aide, question former first family

SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors said Wednesday they will seek an arrest
warrant for an aide to former President Roh Moo-hyun to dig deeper into a
widening bribery scandal in which the former first family, key aides and
high-profile lawmakers have been implicated.
Officials at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office said they will ask for a warrant to
arrest Jung Sang-moon, former administrative affairs secretary at the
presidential office, over allegations that he took 300 million won (US$221,000)
from Park Yeon-cha, chairman of shoemaker Taekwang Industry Co., who has been
indicted on charges of tax evasion and bribery charges.
The ongoing case surrounding Park, who allegedly offered billions of won to
political heavyweights, including Roh's confidants and former government
officials, in exchange for various favors, escalated Tuesday when Roh confessed
on his Web site that his wife, Kwon Yang-sook, had taken money from Park to repay
debt.
The admission has cast a shadow on the legacy of the former president, who took
office in 2003 pledging clean politics. It is also likely to deal a blow to the
opposition party, which is already saddled with internal strife over candidate
nominations for the April 29 by-elections.
Roh, hinting that he was willing to face legal responsibilities, said that he was
worried that Jung may take the blame for the first family. Roh did not say how
much money his wife received but sources close to the investigation said that
Kwon took some 1 billion won.
Investigators, however, believe that Jung may have pocketed a separate 300
million won from Park, and have decided to further interrogate him on charges of
bribery and also on Roh's ties with the scandal-ridden executive.
Jung is also alleged to have organized a meeting between Park and a son-in-law of
Roh Gun-pyeong, the former president's older brother. Park was confirmed to have
delivered $5 million to Yeon Chul-ho, the son-in-law, but the former president
has argued the money was given as a legitimate investment.
Prosecutors plan to summon Yeon to verify where the money was used and check the
accounts of APC, a Hong Kong-based company owned by Park, which was used as a
channel for the transaction.
Roh Gun-pyeong has already been indicted on charges of colluding with Park to
broker the buyout of an ailing securities firm from a state-run company in 2006.
Investigators are expected to draw out a plan on how to summon and question the
former first couple by the end of the week.
Meanwhile, an air of anxiety ran through Roh's hometown of Bongha in Gimhae,
South Gyeongsang Province, now a famous tourist destination where people flock to
get a glimpse of the former president, who retired there in February 2008.
"Roh seems to be in trouble and a lot of the town's people are worried (for
him)," one villager said while waiting for the bus.
A tourist in his 60s from North Gyeongsang Province said while viewing the Roh
residence that the house seemed to have been built well, but added cynically that
it might have been paid for with Park's money.
Kim Kyung-soo, a spokesman for Roh, told reporters that the Rohs have no plans to
leave the house for the day and that whether the allegations are true will come
to light through the investigation.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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