By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

The prosecution will decide early next week whether to seek a warrant to arrest former President Roh Moo-hyun over his alleged acceptance of bribes.

Whether it will do so is a big question and no one is sure yet ahead of the questioning he will undergo Thursday.

The prosecution has made it clear that it will indict the former President on charges of receiving at least $6 million from Taekwang CEO Park Yeon-cha. But when it comes to the matter of arrest, their official position is to wait-and-see.

``We'll follow principles. It is not right to talk about an arrest before questioning him,'' senior prosecutor Hong Man-pyo said. ``It will be decided next week after we review his answers.''

Those proposing arrest say the prosecution should take stern action against bribery, especially in a case in which dozens of former and incumbent politicians and government officials have been implicated.

Also, the amount of the alleged bribe is more than six billion won ― far more than the 100 million won that can result in a 10-year prison sentence for the recipient. As such, failure to arrest Roh if he is found to have taken the money could be seen as unfair treatment compared with ordinary public officials and his aides who have been arrested for receiving money from Park, they said.

Others say prosecutors should indict him without arrest, because if a local court rejects their request for a warrant, they may be accused of mounting an ``excessive investigation'' into the former administration and the legal battle afterward may turn in Roh's favor.

Legal experts say the court may balk at issuing a warrant, as the former head of state is unlikely to flee or destroy evidence.

Some also say Roh cannot be treated the same as other former presidents, who were arrested for bribery due to the amount of money they took. Roh allegedly received six billion won, but Chun Doo-hwan took 210 billion won and Roh Tae-woo, 280 billion won. It is said that the two former presidents extorted money from conglomerates systematically, but Roh's case is more personal.

National prestige will also be taken into consideration, as the arrest of a former President can affect Korea's national image.

In addition to the arrest issue, the prosecution also has to make a decision on whether to summon Roh more than once if it does not get adequate answers from him.

Prosecutors plan to conclude the questioning tomorrow as a courtesy to the former President, but they have only about 10 hours to do so despite having many questions. Roh failed to give detailed answers to their written questions last week.

``We don't have a plan to re-summon him for now and are preparing for a quick session. But even if we do not have enough time, we will not release him without asking all the prepared questions,'' Hong said, indicating they may interrogate him late into the night, or re-summon him if necessary.

Justice Minister Kim Kyung-han told prosecutors to be courteous to the former head of state and to conduct the questioning fairly. He also requested the prosecution prepare proper security for the former President.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr