Former President Roh Moo-hyun has admitted to receiving money from a businessman on his personal website saying he will cooperate fully with the prosecution's investigation.
Under the title, "I Apologize," Roh said his wife requested the money from Park Yeon-cha , the chairman of shoemaking company Taekwang Industry and a wealthy supporter of the former president.
According to Roh, his wife received the money through Jung Sang-moon, a former presidential aide, to pay off his debts.
In the post, he also promised to reveal detailed information to prosecutors and cooperate with the investigation saying he will be judged according to the law.
Park Yeon-cha, who was arrested last December on charges of tax evasion and bribery has been at the center of a major political bribery case in which illegal political funds worth billions of won were given to numerous key politicians of the Roh administration in exchange for various favors.
Former presidential aide Jung was taken into custody by prosecutors Tuesday for questioning on allegations that he took hundreds of millions of won from chairman Park.
In regards to the charges surrounding Jung, Roh stated in his post that he is deeply worried that Jung might take the fall for his own wrongdoing.
As for another heavyweight supporter of Roh, chairman of Changshin Textile Kang Keum-won, an arrest warrant was issued in his name as he is currently tangled in a scandal involving a development project near the former leader's residence in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province.
Other political big shots currently under the gun are Park Kwan-young, a former National Assembly Speaker, who has been summoned for the second time for allegedly receiving around 100 million won in illicit funds from the Taekwang boss and Kim One-ki who was summoned by prosecutors on similar charges.
Meanwhile, the presidential office has refused to comment on the matter saying the issue is not to be taken lightly as it involves a former president.
If prosecutors confirm Roh's involvement experts say it would be a serious blow to the former liberal leader and his allies who stressed clean politics as a major achievement of his presidency.
Jang Ji-yun, Arirang News.
APR 07, 2009
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Friday, SEP 03, 2010, (KST) 
