Ex-Roh Aide Under Probe Flees
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
A former presidential secretary under investigation for receiving bribes fled to the United States, Monday.
Forty-nine-year old Cho Gwang-han served as a vice spokesman and media secretary for President Roh Moo-hyun, before working as an auditor at the Korea Gas Corporation and then as CEO of a liquid crystal display maker.
Police said they obtained information that Cho received 20 million won from a bar owner asking for the promotion of a policeman in June 2005 in Shinsa-dong, southern Seoul. The police said Cho admitted to receiving the money, but denied peddling influence to push the promotion through.
Cho promised to report to the police on Tuesday, but suddenly departed for the U.S. on Monday evening.
It was reported that police may have assisted Cho as they did not seek a ban on him leaving the country even though he had already confessed.
Cho made a name himself by organizing a friend-of-the-common-man image for then presidential candidate Roh Moo-hyun while running for his teammate at the presidential election campaign in 2002. He later joined Cheong Wa Dae where he served the President as a grade-one public official.
This is not the first time Cho has been implicated in irregularities. In November, the presidential office was accused of paying a salary to Cho despite him having left his position.
He was confirmed to have received a salary up to March 2004 though he quit his job in December 2003. The office spokesman said Cho was unable to get a job immediately and the payment was a token of consideration from Cheong Wa Dae.