Ex-president's key supporter arrested in corruption probe

SEOUL, Dec. 12 (Yonhap) -- A key supporter of former President Roh Moo-hyun who
is suspected of tax evasion, insider trading and bribery, was sent to a detention
center on Friday after a court issued a warrant for his arrest.

Park Yeon-cha, chief of shoe manufacturer and Nike outsourcing firm Taekwang
Industry Co., was the centerpiece of prosecutors' months-long probe into
suspected corruption by associates of the previous liberal administration. Roh's
older brother, Roh Gun-pyeong, was arrested last week on bribery allegations.
Granting the warrant to the prosecution, the Seoul Central District Court said
that the issue is grave and there is a fear Park may abscond.
Park is suspected of evading 29 billion won (US$21 million) in income taxes,
pocketing 20 billion won in profits from a brokerage house prior to its takeover
announcement and bribing the chief of the state-run conglomerate National
Agricultural Cooperative Federation, or Nonghyup, to acquire a Nonghyup affiliate
at a bargain price between 2005 and 2006.
The probe has been a sharp blow to former President Roh, who while in office
prided himself on eliminating bribery and sought to distance himself from his
predecessors, whose names were tarnished by scandals involving relatives.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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