(5th LD) Ex-President Roh to be cross-examined with key witness

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead paras to highlight cross-examination)
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, April 30 (Yonhap) -- The prosecution decided Thursday to cross-examine
former President Roh Moo-hyun with a key witness implicated in corruption
scandals surrounding Roh and his family members and said they may summon Roh's
wife again for questioning.
Prosecutors said they will soon have Roh face the arrested businessman, Park
Yeong-cha, who is suspected of providing millions of dollars to Roh's family
members, including his son and wife.
Roh, 62, is the nation's third former president to be summoned by the
prosecution. Former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo were both convicted
in 1995 of receiving bribes and inciting a mutiny. Both were sentenced to death,
but were pardoned in 1997 by then President Kim Young-sam.
"I am deeply ashamed before my fellow citizens. I am sorry to have disappointed
you," said Roh Thursday before embarking on his trip to Seoul from his home in
Gimhae, some 400 km southeast of the capital.
No formal charges have been leveled against Roh, who concluded his term in
February last year, but investigators believe he may have been involved in a
bribery scandal involving US$5 million allegedly paid by a local businessman to
his brother's son-in-law, Yeon Cheol-ho. The prosecution believes part of that
money was also funneled to Roh's son, Gun-ho.
Both the son and Yeon have been summoned by prosecutors several times on
suspicion of receiving money from Park Yeon-cha, a long-time supporter of the
former president. Park, chairman of shoemaker Taekwang Industry, was arrested
late last year on charges of 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 then president.
In a related case involving his wife, Kwon Yang-sook, Roh earlier admitted that
she had accepted US$1 million from Park to pay off a personal debt, but claimed
he was not aware of it until after he stepped down from office.
Hong said prosecutors are now considering summoning Roh's wife for the second
time as Roh refused to disclose where the money was used.
The former president could face indictment on a broad range of bribery charges if
found to have had prior knowledge about the money given to his family members,
according to prosecution officials.
Roh was also questioned in a separate corruption scandal involving his former
aide, Jung Sang-moon, who was arrested last week for allegedly embezzling some
1.25 billion won from the coffers of the presidential office and taking 300
million won in bribes from Park, both during Roh's term.
Investigators are trying to find out whether the money, kept in bank accounts
under various names, was meant for Roh's use or if the accounts were set up at
Roh's request.
Jung has reportedly admitted to setting up the accounts for Roh's use, but
claimed the former president had no knowledge of them until they were exposed by
the prosecution.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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