Allegation that the Four Close to Roh Conspired to Boycott Inspection Session

The Grand National Party (GNP) alleged Tuesday that four people, including Roh Kun-pyong, President Roh Moo-hyun`s elder brother, whom with regard to alleged financial and property irregularities involving the president and his relatives, the National Assembly ordered Monday to stand witness for its inspection of government offices, conspired, in advance, not to appear at the National Assembly`s session.

Rep. Lee Jae-chang of the GNP, chairman of the National Policy Committee, said that letters stating reasons for not appearing at the inspection session, faxed by the four, Roh Kun-pyong, Min Sang-cheol(Kun-pyong`s brother-in-law), Seon Bong-sul(Roh`s chauf feur), and Choi Do-sul, former presidential secretary for general affairs, were all the same.

He alleged that someone orchestrated their absences.

Everything except dates when they received a letter asking for appearance and name of presenter, in the four letters, disclosed by Lee, was the same. Even title of the letters, font style and font size were not different at all.

The four all said that they received the letter asking for appearance on September XX, 2003, so the National Assembly violated Article 5 Clause 4 of the law on the testimony and expert opinion in their letters stating reasons for absence.

In addition, the four letters were faxed on the same day (SEP. 29. 2003) and from the same place (P hotel in Seoul). Only times were different. Seon Bong-sul`s letter was sent in at 09:28 a.m. and other three were faxed at 09:29 a.m.

In a statement, Park Jin, a spokesman for the GNP, said that reasons why the president`s relatives and close aides did not appear are very suspicious. And he added that the allegation of Cheong Wa Dae having orchestrated their absences to obstruct the Assembly`s inspection is probable.

Myoung-Gun Lee gun43@donga.com