Former president heads back home after prosecution probe

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead, ADDS Roh's remarks in 3rd para, minor edits)
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) -- Former President Roh Moo-hyun headed back to his
hometown on Friday after 10 hours of prosecution probe in which he denied
involvement in corruption scandals surrounding his family members.

The former president was grilled over suspicions that he, his wife and son
received millions of dollars in bribes from a businessman.
"I did my best," Roh said as he left the prosecution.
Roh denied the allegations and refused to be cross-examined with Park Yeon-cha,
the businessmen suspected of giving money to the former first family and their
relatives, forcing the probe to end abruptly, prosecutors said.
Investigators said they will consider summoning Roh's wife, Kwon Yang-sook, for
the second time to ask about her monetary transactions with Park. The prosecution
is expected to complete an internal report over the weekend and decide next week
whether to indict the former president.
Roh presented himself at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seoul Thursday
afternoon, becoming 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 later pardoned.
"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.
Park has allegedly provided US$5 million to Yeon Cheol-ho, a son-in-law of Roh's
brother, part of which went to Roh's son, Gun-ho, according to prosecutors.
Both the son and Yeon have been summoned by prosecutors several times on
suspicions of receiving money from Park. The businessman was arrested late last
year on charges of graft and tax evasion.
Roh's son and Yeon 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, 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.
Roh was also questioned on 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.
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.
Roh said he had not known about Jung's dealings, according to prosecutors.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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