Roh admits taking money from indicted executive, vows to cooperate with probe

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in para 3-4, at bottom)
SEOUL, April 7 (Yonhap) -- Former President Roh Moo-hyun admitted Tuesday to
accepting money from a scandal-ridden businessman and said he will cooperate with
the prosecution's investigation.

In a post titled "I apologize" on his Web site, Roh said his wife received money
from Park Yeon-cha, chairman of the shoe manufacturer Taekwang Industry Co.
"It was because there was a debt that had not yet been repaid," Roh wrote,
expressing embarrassment for causing "discomfort to the people from the money
issues" of himself and those close to him.
The admission cast a shadow on the legacy of the former president, who took
office in 2003 pledging "clean politics." It is also likely to deal a blow to the
opposition party that is already saddled with internal strife over candidate
nominations for the April 29 by-elections.
Roh said his wife received the money through Jung Sang-moon, who served as an
aide for administrative affairs during his presidency.
"I will accept a prosecution investigation and share more detailed information,"
he said, "and I will be judged appropriately according to the law."
Park Yeon-cha has been at the center of the unfolding bribery scandal in which
billions of won were allegedly given to political heavyweights, including Roh's
confidants and former government officials, in exchange for various favors.
Jung was taken into custody by prosecutors earlier Tuesday and was being
questioned over allegations that he took hundreds of millions of won from Park.
"Jung is currently being questioned (by prosecutors). I'm worried that he will
testify that he was the one that did it (took the money)," Roh said.
Roh, however, downplayed allegations that he was involved in Park's delivery of
US$5 million to a son-in-law of his older brother, Gun-pyeong, saying that he
believes the nature of the transaction was for an investment.
Yeon Chul-ho, the son-in-law, was confirmed to have taken the money from the
businessman. Aides close to Roh said that it was a legitimate investment, but
some suspect the money was supposed to go to the former president.
"I found out about the money after I left office, but didn't particularly engage
myself in the matter as it took place after my term in office ended," said Roh,
adding he hopes that the investigation will shed light on the suspicions.
Roh Gun-pyeong has been indicted on charges of colluding with Park to broker the
buyout of an ailing securities firm from a state-run company in 2006.
In late March, Rep. Lee Kwang-jae, a top confidant to the former president, was
also placed under arrest for allegedly receiving a total of 180 million won from
Park from 2004-2008.
Prosecutors earlier in the day also summoned Park Kwan-young, a former house
speaker, for the second day to question him over allegedly taking illegal funds
from the Taekwang chairman. He was questioned on Monday, but has denied all
accusations. Kim Won-ki, also a former Assembly speaker, was summoned for
questioning as well.
Meanwhile, prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for Kang Keum-won, chairman of
Changshin Textile Co., for a probe over the nature of his investment into a
development project in Bonghwa, the former president's rural hometown in South
Gyeongsang Province.
Along with Park Yeon-cha, Kang is known as one of Roh's major financial sponsors.
He was summoned and questioned by prosecutors on Monday.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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