Police drop charges against tax officer fired for attacking ex-boss

GWANGJU, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- A tax officer who accused the nation's tax chief of being responsible for the suicide of former President Roh Moo-hyun has been cleared of libel charges, police said Monday.

Gwangju Nambu Police Station said it has decided not to indict Kim Dong-il, a
former employee of a local tax office, in connection with his public accusations
that Han Sang-ryule, then chief of the National Tax Service (NTS), ordered a
politically motivated tax probe into one of Roh's financial supporters in 2008.
Han quit in early 2009 after being disgraced by a corruption scandal. Roh,
president from 2003-2008, took his own life in May after being grilled by
prosecutors on suspicion of receiving bribes from Park Yeon-cha, former chairman
of the shoemaker Taekwang Industry and his financial supporter.
Kim, 47, was fired in early July, blamed for damaging the reputation of the tax
agency and its employees by posting critical writings about the former NTS head
on the agency's online board in May.
The former tax officer had been reported to police for criminal investigation.
Police cleared Kim of all criminal charges, however, saying it was difficult to
secure evidence against him because Han, who is abroad, refuses to cooperate in
the investigation.