By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
The truth about the bribery scandal surrounding the late former President Roh Moo-hyun remains unsolved after the prosecution concluded its six-month investigation Friday.
Lee In-kyu, head of the investigative team, said, ``We initiated the probe on evidence that $5 million was wired to the former first family from a Hong Kong account but it is regrettable that Roh passed away before the probe could be completed.''
The prosecution indicated that its investigation records on the former President would be kept permanently.
But lawyers for the late Roh said they cannot accept this. They expressed disappointment that the prosecution did not make any apology for leaking unconfirmed suspicions, adding the people wanted to know who ordered the ``politically-motivated'' investigation.
Prosecutors were pressured to conclude the case after Roh, one of the key suspects, committed suicide last month.
``We close the case, as the right to arraign Roh was no longer valid following his death,'' senior prosecutor Lee said.
The prosecution did not disclose details of the investigation, saying that doing so could defame related witnesses.
As a result, suspicions that Roh took $6.4 million in bribes from Park Yeon-cha, the former CEO of Busan-based shoemaker Taekwang, remain mystery.
Park allegedly gave the money to Roh's family members as a ``loan'' and ``investment,'' but the former President had claimed he learned about the money only after he left Cheong Wa Dae. With the investigation expanding even after his summons, Roh leapt off a cliff near his home and fell to his death on May 23.
``We suspect Park gave the money to Roh considering his testimony and other circumstances. But we will not include the charge in indicting Park, because a fair trial is unlikely when only the bribe-provider, without the alleged bribe taker, is indicted,'' Lee said.
The senior prosecutor said the investigation was not political vengeance by the Lee Myung-bak administration as opposition parties claim, adding that it was part of the investigation into the former Taekwang CEO's alleged illegalities.
Prosecutors also closed down their the probe into other allegations ― suspicions that high-profile figures in the government and the governing Grand National Party (GNP) were allegedly involved.
Park is said to have asked some of President Lee's aides to lobby tax officials so that his company could avoid an audit. President Lee's former secretary Choo Bu-ghil was arrested for receiving money from Park in exchange, while Lee's long-time friend, Sejoong Namo Tour Chairman Chun Shin-il, was indicted without detention.
Prosecutors concluded the lobby failed, as Park was arrested on a tax evasion charges after the audit. Park's in-law and former Jungbu Regional Tax Office head Kim Jung-bok and President Lee's former secretary Lee Jong-chan were cleared.
The opposition Democratic Party (DP) Chairman Chung Se-kyun said, ``The probe was politically motivated from the beginning, and it should be verified by an independent counsel.''
Other politicians and public officials were indicted without detention for receiving money from Park in exchange for influence peddling. They include GNP lawmakers Park Jin and Kim Jeong-kwon; DP lawmakers Suh Gap-won and Choi Chul-kook; former National Assembly speakers Park Kwan-yong and Kim Won-ki; former National Police Agency Commissioner General Lee Taek-soon; Busan High Court prosecutor Kim Jong-ro; and Seoul City Vice Mayor Lee Sang-cheol.
Prosecutors earlier arrested former Korea Maritime Institute head Lee Jeong-wook; former Gimhae Mayor Song Eun-bok; former Public Administration and Home Affairs Vice Minister Chang In-tae; Roh's former secretaries Park Jeong-gyu and Chung Sang-moon; and DP lawmaker Lee Kwang-jae.
Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Ra Eung-chan was cleared of the suspicious money transactions with Park, but prosecutors will continue looking into the alleged acceptance of bribes by South Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Tae-ho.