Ex-president Roh answers questions ahead of imminent summons

SEOUL, April 25 (Yonhap) -- Former President Roh Moo-hyun has answered questions submitted by prosecutors earlier this week over a bribe scandal, an aide to Roh said Saturday.

Roh's reply is believed to have set the stage for what is anticipated to be a
long legal battle between Roh and the prosecution, who are widely expected to
summon the former president next week.
"President Roh sent his reply around 3:30 p.m. today via e-mail," Kim Gyeong-soo,
an aide to the former president, said.
Moon Jae-in, Roh's former chief of staff, earlier said a hard copy of answers
will soon be submitted to the prosecution.
At the center of the bribery scandal involving the former president is his son
and his brother's son-in-law, who allegedly received US$5 million from Park
Yeon-cha, a long-time supporter of Roh and head of a shoe manufacturing company,
Taekwang Industry.
Roh's son and his nephew-in-law claim the money was a legitimate investment made
by Park, but prosecution believe it was a bribe that was meant to eventually end
up with the former president.
Roh, 62, has also acknowledged "borrowing" $1 million from Park in an earlier
post on his personal Web site. Prosecutors reportedly believe the money was
simply given, not lent.
Park has been arrested while Roh's former secretary for general affairs Jung
Sang-moon has also been placed under custody on suspicion of accepting bribes
from Park on behalf of Roh.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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