Rohs Ex-Aide Faces Summons
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Prosecutors are expected to call in President Roh Moo-hyun's former secretary for policy planning today over his alleged abuse of authority in protecting and sponsoring his long-time romantic partner who is accused of fabricating her academic credentials.
A prosecutor at the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office said Wednesday that Byeon Yang-kyoon will be summoned soon after the ongoing investigation of other key figures involved in the diploma forgery scandal is completed.
Byeon is suspected of having abused his influence to have the 35-year-old degree scammer, Shin Jeong-ah, hired by Dongguk University in 2005 and appointed as a director for the 2008 Gwangju Biennale last July.
If the allegations are confirmed, prosecutors plan to charge him with abuse of power. Byeon may face additional charges if he helped Shin flee to the U.S., according to the prosecution. Byeon might have further criminal charges added if the former minister of budget and planning allocated funds from the state budget to sponsor her exhibitions, lawyers said.
In the meantime, the court rejected a request to search Byeon's home in Gwachon, Gyeonggi Province and his temporary residence near the presidential office. ``The court turned down our request, citing privacy protection,'' prosecutors said, adding they are considering making a second request.
The biennale foundation's former chief Han Kap-soo was questioned Wednesday over whether Byeon peddled influence to have Shin picked for the director post in July. It was alleged that screening members initially questioned Shin's qualifications. Byeon is reported to have acknowledged that he helped Shin get the post.
The prosecution questioned Monday Hong Ki-sam, president of Dongguk University who hired Shin as an assistant professor. Hong said that Byeon had recommended Shin for the position via a phone call, saying he knew a talented woman who had graduated from Yale University.
Hong said he hired her without questioning her school credentials as Byeon said the art curator was a Yale graduate.
Buddhist monk Jang Yoon, who first blew the whistle on Shin's degree forgery, was also summoned Tuesday.
Prosecutors questioned the monk over why he raised suspicion over Shin's academic record and whether Byeon pressured him to keep silent.
From testimonies from Hong and the monk, prosecutors suspect Byeon might not have been aware of Shin's diploma forgery until the scandal broke.