ID :
58321
Thu, 04/30/2009 - 09:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/58321
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Former President Roh to undergo probe over bribery scandal
SEOUL, April 30 (Yonhap) -- Former President Roh Moo-hyun will be questioned by the prosecution Thursday over bribery allegations surrounding himself, his former aide and family members including his son and an in-law.
Roh, 62, was scheduled to arrive at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seoul
around 1:30 p.m. from his home in Bonghwa, some 400 kilometers southeast of the
capital in South Gyeongsang Province. Prosecutors said the questioning could
continue past midnight.
No formal charges have been leveled against the former president who concluded
his term in February last year, but investigators believe Roh may have been
involved in a bribery scandal involving some US$5 million and implicating his
son, Gun-ho, as well as his brother's son-in-law, Yeon Cheol-ho.
Both the son and Yeon have been summoned by prosecutors several times on
suspicion of receiving money from Park Yeon-cha, a businessman and long-time
supporter of the former president, who was arrested late last year for graft and
tax evasion.
The two claimed the money was a legitimate investment made by Park in a company
owned and run by Yeon, but the prosecution believes the money was meant to reach
the former president.
Roh denied the allegations in a written statement submitted to the prosecution
Saturday.
In a separate case involving his wife, Roh admitted to accepting $1 million from
Park to pay off a personal debt, but claimed the money was provided as a loan.
The former president could face indictment on what the prosecution calls an
"umbrella" application of bribery charges if he is found to have had knowledge
about the money given to his son and other family members, according to
prosecution officials.
Roh will also be questioned over a corruption scandal involving his former aide
Jung Sang-moon, who was taken into custody last week for allegedly embezzling
some 1.2 billion won ($930,000) from the president's confidential expense account
while working as a senior secretary to Roh.
Investigators are trying to find out whether the money, kept in various bank
accounts, was meant for Roh's use or if the accounts were set up at Roh's
request.
Roh, 62, was scheduled to arrive at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seoul
around 1:30 p.m. from his home in Bonghwa, some 400 kilometers southeast of the
capital in South Gyeongsang Province. Prosecutors said the questioning could
continue past midnight.
No formal charges have been leveled against the former president who concluded
his term in February last year, but investigators believe Roh may have been
involved in a bribery scandal involving some US$5 million and implicating his
son, Gun-ho, as well as his brother's son-in-law, Yeon Cheol-ho.
Both the son and Yeon have been summoned by prosecutors several times on
suspicion of receiving money from Park Yeon-cha, a businessman and long-time
supporter of the former president, who was arrested late last year for graft and
tax evasion.
The two claimed the money was a legitimate investment made by Park in a company
owned and run by Yeon, but the prosecution believes the money was meant to reach
the former president.
Roh denied the allegations in a written statement submitted to the prosecution
Saturday.
In a separate case involving his wife, Roh admitted to accepting $1 million from
Park to pay off a personal debt, but claimed the money was provided as a loan.
The former president could face indictment on what the prosecution calls an
"umbrella" application of bribery charges if he is found to have had knowledge
about the money given to his son and other family members, according to
prosecution officials.
Roh will also be questioned over a corruption scandal involving his former aide
Jung Sang-moon, who was taken into custody last week for allegedly embezzling
some 1.2 billion won ($930,000) from the president's confidential expense account
while working as a senior secretary to Roh.
Investigators are trying to find out whether the money, kept in various bank
accounts, was meant for Roh's use or if the accounts were set up at Roh's
request.
