Justice minister returns top prosecutor's letter of resignation

SEOUL, May 25 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutor General Lim Chae-jin has offered to resign,
apparently holding himself responsible for his prosecutors' intensive
investigation into suspicions of bribery involving the family of former President
Roh Moo-hyun, who died in an apparent suicide last Saturday, prosecution sources
said Monday.

According to the sources, Lim tendered his resignation to Justice Minister Kim
Kyung-han just hours after Roh's death was made known Saturday morning, but his
resignation was returned Monday afternoon.
"Lim delivered his intention to quit, but the justice minister asked him to
conclude the ongoing probe into the so-called Park Yeon-cha scandal before
considering his resignation," said a source.
Roh was summoned by prosecutors April 30 and faced about 10 hours of grueling
questioning over allegations that he and his family members had received at least
US$6 million from Park, the arrested chairman of shoemaker Taekwang Industry.
Critics say the former president may have decided to commit suicide because he
was unable to stand the enormous psychological pressure ahead of prosecutors'
decision on whether to seek an arrest warrant for him on bribery charges.
Lim was appointed to the top prosecution post during the Roh presidency, which
ended in February 2008.
ycm@yna.co.kr
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