Roh family in-law detained in widening corruption probe

(ATTN: UPDATES with details of new allegations involving key opposition official in
paras 10-13)
SEOUL, April 10 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors on Friday detained an in-law of former
President Roh Moo-hyun who admitted to receiving 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 into his start-up company.
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 -- shifted towards 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.
Roh said in the statement that he found out about the deal between Park and Yeon
after he left office, but did not take any steps to investigate as it took place
after his term ended.
Prosecutors said they have secured Park's testimony that he gave $1 million to
Roh through a presidential aide, and believe the money went to the former
president, not his wife.
Prosecutors were also expected to question Roh Gun-ho, the former president's
only son, who reportedly accompanied Yeon to a meeting with Park at a Vietnamese
factory owned by the indicted businessman.
Investigators said they have yet to confirm a newspaper report that Gun-ho is a
key shareholder of Yeon's start-up company.
The former first couple is also expected to be summoned as early as next week for
questioning, they said.
Meanwhile, a key member of the main opposition Democratic Party admitted that he
received 50-million-won worth of department store gift certificates from Park and
that he was questioned by investigators last week.
"I won't deny it (allegations that he received gift certificates). I testified to
prosecutors in detail and believe that they will judge whether it will be a
problem or not," Ahn Hee-jung, a member of DP's supreme council, told Yonhap News
Agency in a telephone interview.
Prosecutors found out that Ahn received the gift certificates which Park bought
at a department store in Busan in late 2004.
Ahn, a longtime confidant of Roh, was convicted of receiving 6.5 billion won from
businesses ahead of the 2002 presidential election. He was released from prison
in December 2004 after serving one year.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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