ID :
37890
Tue, 12/30/2008 - 10:25
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/37890
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Prosecutors find ex-president's debt document from indicted exec
Prosecutors find ex-president's debt document from indicted exec
SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors said Monday they have discovered a
document, supposedly signed by former President Roh Moo-hyun, that says he
borrowed 150 million won (US$117,400) from a businessman allegedly involved in an
influence-peddling acquisition scandal during his term.
The Supreme Prosecutors' Office's central investigation division said it has
received the IOU that appears to have been signed by Roh from the National Tax
Service, which discovered it when conducting a tax probe into Park Yeon-cha,
chief of Taekwang Industry Co. The veracity of the document, however, has not
been confirmed.
It was also unclear whether the prosecution can build a bribery case against Roh
since the date on the IOU is believed to be after his retirement.
An aide representing the former president said over the telephone to Yonhap News
Agency that it is not appropriate as of now to make any comment.
Park was indicted last week on charges of evading taxes worth some 29 billion
won. Roh's older brother, Roh Gun-pyeong, was also indicted last week over his
alleged involvement in a takeover of Sejong Securities Co. by the state-run
conglomerate Nonghyup. Roh's brother and Park are high school friends.
The IOU was reportedly signed on an unidentified date after Roh's retirement from
office in February with a payment date set a year later.
"We have not confirmed yet whether the transaction really took place," Choi
Jae-kyong, a prosecutor at the division said, declining to comment further.
After leaving office, Roh Moo-hyun settled in his rural hometown of Jinyang on
the nation's southern coast, becoming the first ex-president to live away from
Seoul, the capital.
After the prosecution launched an investigation into the alleged corruption case
involving his older brother and associates three months ago, Roh complained that
his administration was being targeted by his conservative successor, Lee
Myung-bak.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors said Monday they have discovered a
document, supposedly signed by former President Roh Moo-hyun, that says he
borrowed 150 million won (US$117,400) from a businessman allegedly involved in an
influence-peddling acquisition scandal during his term.
The Supreme Prosecutors' Office's central investigation division said it has
received the IOU that appears to have been signed by Roh from the National Tax
Service, which discovered it when conducting a tax probe into Park Yeon-cha,
chief of Taekwang Industry Co. The veracity of the document, however, has not
been confirmed.
It was also unclear whether the prosecution can build a bribery case against Roh
since the date on the IOU is believed to be after his retirement.
An aide representing the former president said over the telephone to Yonhap News
Agency that it is not appropriate as of now to make any comment.
Park was indicted last week on charges of evading taxes worth some 29 billion
won. Roh's older brother, Roh Gun-pyeong, was also indicted last week over his
alleged involvement in a takeover of Sejong Securities Co. by the state-run
conglomerate Nonghyup. Roh's brother and Park are high school friends.
The IOU was reportedly signed on an unidentified date after Roh's retirement from
office in February with a payment date set a year later.
"We have not confirmed yet whether the transaction really took place," Choi
Jae-kyong, a prosecutor at the division said, declining to comment further.
After leaving office, Roh Moo-hyun settled in his rural hometown of Jinyang on
the nation's southern coast, becoming the first ex-president to live away from
Seoul, the capital.
After the prosecution launched an investigation into the alleged corruption case
involving his older brother and associates three months ago, Roh complained that
his administration was being targeted by his conservative successor, Lee
Myung-bak.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
