By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
The prosecution decided in principle, Friday, to indict former President Roh Moo-hyun. The real question now is whether it will seek a warrant to arrest him next week.
If the prosecution does and the warrant is issued, Roh will be the third former head of state to face arrest, following Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo, who were imprisoned for creating slush funds and accepting bribes.
The governing Grand National Party advised the prosecution not to physically detain the former head of state even if it has evidence that he had taken bribes. Lee Hoi-chang, chairman of the minor opposition Liberty Forward Party, also said Friday he was against his detention as he was unlikely to flee or destroy evidence. He also said Roh should be given a modicum of respect as a former President until he is found guilty.
Prosecutors plan to summon the former President early next week over his alleged receipt of a total of $6 million from long-term supporter Park Yeon-cha, CEO of shoemaker Taekwang. The former head of state has denied the allegation.
His family members involved ― wife, Kwon Yang-sook; son, Roh Geon-ho; Yeon Cheol-ho, the husband of his niece; and Kwon's brother ― have already been questioned along with his aides, including former secretary Chung Sang-moon. Roh is the only suspect left to face questioning.
Roh claimed that $1 million of the money was a loan from Park to his wife, as the family had to repay a debt; and the remaining $5 million was an investment into Yeon's business. But prosecutors suspect the money was intended for Roh.
The prosecution secured evidence that Geon-ho, not Yeon, took control of the $5 million and invested part of it in his uncle's firm and another company allegedly owned by himself. Senior prosecutor Hong Man-pyo said that the junior Roh had admitted to taking part in managing the money, changing his previous statement.
Prosecutors are now considering changing Geon-ho's status to ``suspect'' from ``witness.'' He also is unlikely to avoid indictment, according to the prosecution.
As for the connections between the money and the former President, Hong said, ``It's unreasonable and beyond common sense that he did not know about the money deal involving his wife and son.''
Hong said prosecutors have not decided whether to arrest Roh yet, but speculation is that they will ― a public official taking more than 100 million won in kickbacks is subject to at least 10 years in prison. The prosecution has reportedly decided to ask a court to issue a warrant to arrest him.
But some say they may not, because they have not obtained decisive evidence to prove Roh was aware of the $6 million deal during his presidency. Roh claimed he became aware of it only recently after his retirement.
In the meantime, it was found that the former first lady received $30,000 from former Nonghyup head Chung Dae-kun in addition to the $1 million from Park.
According to Moon Jae-in, former presidential chief of staff to Roh, the former Nonghyup chief gave $30,000 to Roh's secretary, Chung, in September 2006, ahead of Roh's 60th birthday, saying he did not know what to buy for a present. Chung then delivered the money to Kwon.
``Kwon did not tell Roh about it at the time as she thought the husband would tell her to return the money,'' Moon said, adding she had already admitted this to prosecutors.
Roh's son was questioned Friday for the fourth time over whether he made the decision to invest part of the $5 million into his uncle's company, and when his parents learned about the money.