Roh jumped after sending his bodyguard on errand: police

Reversing their earlier claim, the police yesterday concluded that former President Roh Moo-hyun jumped off a cliff of a mountain behind his residence in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, after sending his bodyguard on an errand.

Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency initially claimed that Roh was with his bodyguard when he jumped 45 meters from Owl`s Rock in Mount Bongha last Saturday morning.

The police said that the bodyguard, surnamed Lee, falsely testified and reversed himself several times due to psychological pressures such as "his shock, guilty conscience and anxiety" for his failure to protect the former head of state. Lee decided to tell the truth after being persuaded by his colleagues.



After he fell, Roh`s body was left unattended for at least 28 minutes, the police said.

"The time that Roh jumped off the rock is presumed to be sometime between 6:14 a.m. and 6:17 a.m.," said Lee Un-u, the provincial police chief, in a press conference.

After writing a suicide note on his computer, Roh hiked up Mount Bongha with his bodyguard and arrived at Owl`s Rock at around 6:10 a.m., according to the police.

At around 6:14 a.m., Roh asked Lee to check if the head monk of Jeongtowon - a nearby temple, located about 247 meters away from Owl`s Rock - was around. Lee rushed to the temple, came back about three minutes later and found that Roh had disappeared.

At around 6:45 a.m., Lee found Roh lying on the ground. Lee carried him on his shoulders after checking his pulse, came down the mountain and rushed to a nearby hospital by car.

On Saturday, the police had said in their interim investigation report that Roh arrived at Owl`s Rock at 6:20 a.m., took a 20-minute break with Lee and jumped from the rock after diverting Lee`s attention by asking "Who`s there?"

The police also said that there were no traces that showed the suicide note was manipulated, and that there was no additional suicide note found yet.

Some citizens have decried the police for relying too much on the bodyguard`s statements, with others urging the police to reinvestigate the case from the beginning.

The police have mobilized about 90 investigators to look into Roh`s death.

His death came during a sweeping inquiry into a bribery scandal involving his family, aides and associates.

Observers say watching corruption charges disparage his presidential achievements may have been unbearable for Roh who was elected to the country`s top office on a promise to stamp out corruption and a drive to achieve "clean politics."

By Song Sag-ho



(sshluck@heraldm.com)