`Brother lobbied Roh over tax post`

Former President Roh Moo-hyun`s brother had lobbied him for the promotion of a relative of a scandal-ridden businessman, prosecutors said yesterday.

Prosecutors disclosed the statement of Roh Gun-pyeong, who was indicted for taking bribes from entrepreneur Park Yeon-cha. Both were arrested last year.

According to prosecutors, Roh Gun-pyeong asked the former president while he was still in office to positively consider appointing Park`s in-law Kim Jung-bok as chief of the National Tax Service.

Kim was then head of the Jungbu District Tax Office in Seoul.

Prosecutors disclosed the statement during the first court hearing for Park Jung-kyu, Roh`s former senior civil affairs secretary who was indicted early this month for taking bribes from Park, chairman of shoemaker Tae Kwang Industry.

Kim was a candidate for the top post of the NTS in 2005, but failed to get promoted. Kim was appointed later to minister of patriots and veterans affairs.

Park Jung-kyu is charged with having taken gift vouchers worth 100 million won ($74,400) in December 2004 from Park. Prosecutors believe the businessman allegedly offered the bribes to Park Jung-kyu, hoping that he could peddle influence in Kim`s appointment as tax chief.

Roh`s elder brother was indicted last December on charges of influence peddling and bribery in connection with the 2006 purchase of a faltering securities firm by the state agricultural cooperative.

Prosecutors are investigating Chun Shin-il, a close associate of President Lee Myung-bak. Chun has been barred from leaving the country.

Prosecutors suspect Park Yeon-cha offered large amounts of money to the chairman of Sejoong Namo Tour last year, asking for help to evade a tax audit into his business. Chun has denied the allegation.

Meanwhile, prosecutors are gearing up to summon Roh. They sent a questionnaire Wednesday to Roh in the final stage of their inquiry into a corruption scandal surrounding the former president and his associates.

The questionnaire is expected to be finished and delivered to the prosecutors this weekend.

"It would not take much time to fill out the questions in the questionnaire," said Roh`s former chief of staff Moon Jae-in in a media interview.

Prosecutors plan to fix the summons date around Sunday. Observers say they would question him after the April 29 by-elections.

Observers expect that prosecutors may indict Roh without detention as courtesy to the former president and to avoid criticism that the investigation is politically motivated.

By Song Sang-ho



(sshluck@heraldm.com)