Justice Ministry to close bribery probe into Roh family

SEOUL, May 23 (Yonhap) -- The justice minister said Saturday that an
investigation into ex-President Roh Moo-hyun would end, hours after the former
head of state died after falling off a mountainside.
Roh, 62, was pronounced dead at a hospital in the southern port city of Busan at
9:30 a.m. after he fell while hiking near his residence in Bongha Village. His
lawyer said Roh left behind a brief suicide note, but police have yet to
officially confirm whether Roh intended to kill himself.
Roh's death came amid a widening prosecution probe into his alleged involvement
in a corruption scandal that implicated his family members. Rho and his wife,
Kwon Yang-sook, had been summoned by prosecutors and questioned about their
monetary transactions with Park Yeon-cha, a businessman arrested for evading
taxes and bribing influential political figures.
Justice Minister Kim Kyung-han said in a statement that he "is aware that the
investigation on former President Roh will come to a close."
"I cannot hold back the shock and sadness from Roh's unexpected death," the
minister said.
The prosecution and the police are looking into the cause and circumstances of
his death and will make the results known to the public, he said.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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