Korea's Supreme Prosecutors' Office is widening its probe on Jung Sang-moon , a former aide to ex-President Roh Moo-hyun and the investigation is expected to soon spread to the former president himself.
The prosecutors' office said it will first investigate Jung's alleged receiving of 300 million Korean won or just over 220-thousand US dollars from businessman Park Yeon-cha.
Then the probe will move on to Jung's transferring another sum of money from the scandal-plagued chairman of shoe manufacturer Taekwang Industry to former First Lady Kwon Yang-sook.
Roh admitted in a post on his website dubbed "I Apologize" Tuesday that his wife accepted Park's money through his aid Jung.
Sources told Arirang News that the money amounts to one-billion Korean won.
The prosecutors' office is expected to focus its investigation on Park's accounts home and abroad by the end of this week.
When this is wrapped up former President Roh and his wife are likely to be summoned for investigation.
Roh said that the money was received to pay off debts, but his annual asset report from 2003 to 2008 while he was in office does not suggest that Roh had any debts.
While posting his apology Roh evaded clarification of whether he knew if his wife's acceptance of the money was illegal.
Lawyers say that even if the money was not given for any apparent favor in return receiving money while in office can be considered bribery.
One top of this allegation, the prosecutors' office is likely to shed light on two additional suspicions of Roh.
These are Roh's possible involvement in his nephew-in-law's receiving a five-million dollar investment from Park in February 2008.
Roh said that he learned about the money after his retirement however did not take any action because it was an investment in nature.
Also, prosecutors plan to touch on Roh's involvement in a scandal regarding a development project near his current residence at Bongha Village in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province.
Another heavyweight supporter of Roh, chairman of Changshin Textile Kang Keum-won is under investigation to this end.
Kang spent 7 billion won on the project through his company, Bongha Corporation.
The prosecutors' office is suspicious of any illegality in forming the fund, and if Roh profited from it.
[Reporter : kimbumsoo@arirang.co.kr] "The former president said in his post that he would cooperate with the investigation, and that he is willing to be judged according to the law. In that case, Roh's bribery scandal would mark the first time for a former President and his wife to be investigated.
Kim Bum-soo, Arirang News."
APR 08, 2009
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Friday, SEP 03, 2010, (KST) 
