ID :
57556
Mon, 04/27/2009 - 06:29
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/57556
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Roh to be interrogated by prosecutors this week in bribery scandal
SEOUL, April 26 (Yonhap) -- State prosecutors said Sunday that they will question former President Roh Moo-hyun later this week in their widening probe into a corruption scandal that has already led to the summons of his wife, son, and confidants.
Roh is suspected of receiving millions of dollars through his family and aides
from a local businessman while in office from 2003-2008. He has denied the
allegations.
Roh, now staying in his southern hometown near Busan, has been asked to appear in
the headquarters of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (SPO) in Seoul at 1:30 p.m. on
Thursday, according to a senior prosecution official.
"We made a prudent decision on the schedule for the summon in consideration of
courtesy for a former president including the duration of questioning, (Roh's)
travel time, distance, and security concerns," Hong Man-pyo told reporters.
Moon Jae-in, former presidential chief of staff, said Roh accepted the summons.
Roh plans to come to Seoul by land, added Moon, who is Roh's attorney in the
case.
"Concrete transportation plans will be decided in consultation with a security
team," Moon told Yonhap News Agency over the phone.
Roh earlier admitted that his wife, Kwon Yang-sook, had taken US$1 million from
Park Yeon-cha, head of shoe manufacturer Taekwang Industry, to pay off debts. Roh
did not specify whether it was a loan. Kwon, when quizzed by prosecutors, did not
specify whether she used the money.
The businessman was arrested in December on charges of offering kickbacks to key
officials in the Roh administration. Roh's only son, Kun-ho, and the husband of
his niece, Yeon Chul-ho, are also alleged to have received about US$5 million
from Park under the pretext of investment.
Jung Sang-Moon, a former secretary to Roh, was also arrested earlier this month
for allegedly receiving money from Park and embezzling presidential office funds.
Prosecutors suspect Park provided the money to Roh's family members and aides as
part of efforts to get business favors from the president. Roh claims that he did
not know about the money transfer until after he retired.
The allegations dealt a serious blow to Roh's image as a clean politician.
Leaving the presidential office, Roh said he wanted to spend the rest of his life
"peacefully," unlike many of his predecessors who have been dogged by bribery and
other scandals.
Roh is the third South Korean president to face a prosecutors' summons following
Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo, both of whom were convicted of inciting mutiny and
receiving illicit political funds. The two were pardoned later.
In the run-up to the summons, the office sent a written questionnaire to Roh last
Wednesday, to which he sent badk answers through e-mail on Saturday.
Thursday, the summons date, is a day after the April 29 by-elections, in which
five National Assembly seats are up for the grabs.
(END)
Roh is suspected of receiving millions of dollars through his family and aides
from a local businessman while in office from 2003-2008. He has denied the
allegations.
Roh, now staying in his southern hometown near Busan, has been asked to appear in
the headquarters of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (SPO) in Seoul at 1:30 p.m. on
Thursday, according to a senior prosecution official.
"We made a prudent decision on the schedule for the summon in consideration of
courtesy for a former president including the duration of questioning, (Roh's)
travel time, distance, and security concerns," Hong Man-pyo told reporters.
Moon Jae-in, former presidential chief of staff, said Roh accepted the summons.
Roh plans to come to Seoul by land, added Moon, who is Roh's attorney in the
case.
"Concrete transportation plans will be decided in consultation with a security
team," Moon told Yonhap News Agency over the phone.
Roh earlier admitted that his wife, Kwon Yang-sook, had taken US$1 million from
Park Yeon-cha, head of shoe manufacturer Taekwang Industry, to pay off debts. Roh
did not specify whether it was a loan. Kwon, when quizzed by prosecutors, did not
specify whether she used the money.
The businessman was arrested in December on charges of offering kickbacks to key
officials in the Roh administration. Roh's only son, Kun-ho, and the husband of
his niece, Yeon Chul-ho, are also alleged to have received about US$5 million
from Park under the pretext of investment.
Jung Sang-Moon, a former secretary to Roh, was also arrested earlier this month
for allegedly receiving money from Park and embezzling presidential office funds.
Prosecutors suspect Park provided the money to Roh's family members and aides as
part of efforts to get business favors from the president. Roh claims that he did
not know about the money transfer until after he retired.
The allegations dealt a serious blow to Roh's image as a clean politician.
Leaving the presidential office, Roh said he wanted to spend the rest of his life
"peacefully," unlike many of his predecessors who have been dogged by bribery and
other scandals.
Roh is the third South Korean president to face a prosecutors' summons following
Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo, both of whom were convicted of inciting mutiny and
receiving illicit political funds. The two were pardoned later.
In the run-up to the summons, the office sent a written questionnaire to Roh last
Wednesday, to which he sent badk answers through e-mail on Saturday.
Thursday, the summons date, is a day after the April 29 by-elections, in which
five National Assembly seats are up for the grabs.
(END)
