The prosecution on Wednesday demanded a six-month jail term for late President Roh Moo-hyun’s daughter on charges of violating the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act.

Roh Jeong-yeon is alleged to have illicitly wired 1.3 billion won ($1.2 million) to a Korean-American lawyer in 2008 to purchase a high-end apartment in New Jersey without reporting the outbound money transaction to the state authorities.

During a court hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, Roh’s attorney Kwak Sang-eon claimed that Roh, then a housewife, did not know the money transfer could violate the law.

He added that while staying in the U.S., she was acting on behalf of her mother and did not plan to own the apartment. With teary eyes, Roh said that she was sorry for causing social concern.

The trial has been political fodder for conservative politicians who argue that the money Roh transferred might be part of a slush fund the former liberal president may have amassed through illicit means.

The sentencing hearing is slated to be held on Jan. 23.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)