By Kim Rahn, Park Si-soo
Staff Reporters
The prosecution is investigating former President Roh Moo-hyun's elder brother to confirm whether he bought a building using part of funds delivered as a bribe to an aide to Roh.
Prosecutors said Wednesday they were tipped off that the elder brother, Roh Geon-pyeong, purchased a building in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, using part of three billion won given to the aide, Chung Hwa-sam, in exchange for influence peddling in the sale of Sejong Securities to Nonghyup Bank in 2006.
According to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, former Sejong Capital CEO Hong Ki-ok, who held a controlling stake in Sejong Securities, gave the money to Chung and his younger brother ahead of the acquisition and then Chung's son-in-law identified as Lee, a former Cheong Wa Dae official, took care of it.
Lee is suspected of having managed the cash in multiple false-name bank accounts and part of it was spent by the elder Roh in purchasing the building.
In an interview, Roh said, ``It's a groundless allegation. I have nothing to do with the building.''
The prosecution will summon him for questioning as early as this weekend.
In related news, the National Tax Service has filed a complaint with the prosecution against Park Yeon-cha, head of Busan-based shoe company Taekwang Ind. and one of former President Roh's close confidents, for tax evasion.
Prosecutors said they will summon Park next week for questioning.
They allege that Park made 17.8 billion won by purchasing Sejong Securities stocks before Nonghyup bought the firm and reselling them after the deal was completed, using inside information. Park has admitted that he evaded tax.
The investigation of the scandal took a new twist with the former Cheong Wa Dae official being implicated in the sale of Sejong Securities.
Lee worked at the presidential office from September 2007 to last February when former President Roh's term expired.
Prosecutors said they questioned Lee last week over his alleged role in managing the fund.
Chung Hwa-sam, one of the former President's high school friends, and his brother, Chung Kwang-yong, allegedly introduced the senior Roh to Hong in June 2005 when the latter wanted to sell his company, as the elder Roh was close to then-Nonghyup CEO Chung Dae-kun.
The senior Roh admitted to contacting the former Nonghyup chairman after the Chung brothers and Hong sought his influence. Hong allegedly offered five billion won to the former Nonghyup head after the elder Roh made contact.
``We don't think Lee's work at Cheong Wa Dae is related to the acceptance of the bribe. He seems to have been the father-in-law's assistant, but we may charge him if he was aware that the money was a bribe,'' a prosecutor said.
The prosecution is probing whether part of the three billion won was sent to the senior Roh as a ``commission'' and whether the brothers managed the money under false names instead of him. Hong earlier testified that the brothers had demanded the money, saying they would need it to solicit the elder Roh's influence. Prosecutors said they have yet to find evidence that the Roh received any money.