Roh family in-law detained in widening corruption probe

SEOUL, April 10 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors on Friday detained an in-law of former
President Roh Moo-hyun who allegedly received US$5 million from a businessman
indicted for bribery.
Officials at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office raided the house of Yeon Chul-ho, a
son-in-law of the former president's older brother, Roh Gun-pyeong, in Bundang,
south of Seoul, and took him into custody.
Yeon was found to have received the money from Park Yeon-cha, chairman of
shoemaker Taekwang Industry Co., who has been indicted on charges of tax evasion
and bribery. Yeon admitted to receiving the money from Park but says it was a
legitimate investment.
An investigation into Park -- who allegedly handed out billions of won to
political heavyweights, including Roh's confidants and former government
officials, in exchange for various favors -- has shifted to the Roh family after
the former president confessed on his Web site that his wife, Kwon Yang-sook, had
accepted money from Park to repay debts.
Prosecutors said they have Park's testimony that he gave $1 million to Roh
through the presidential office, and believe the money went to the former
president, not his wife.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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