Arrest Warrant Sought for Ex-Pres. Roh`s Aide

Prosecutors yesterday sought an arrest warrant for Jung Sang-moon, former presidential secretary under Roh Moo-hyun, on the charges of taking bribes and embezzling.

Jung is suspected of depositing 1.3 billion won (972,000 U.S. dollars) in two or three bank accounts under false names.

Prosecutors charged Chung with taking 300 million won (312,174 dollars) in bribes from Taekwang Industry CEO Park Yeon-cha in August 2006 and hundreds of millions of won in bribes from another businessman.

Chung is also suspected of embezzling money from the presidential office`s budget while working as presidential secretary for administrative affairs.

Prosecutors summoned another former official at the same post as a witness Sunday.

They said Chung deposited 1.3 billion won (972,000 dollars) including the 300 million won received from Park in several borrowed-name accounts and made them into certificates of deposit.

When prosecutors found evidence that the money known to have been delivered to Roh’s wife Kwon Yang-sook was hoarded in false-name accounts, Chung told prosecutors that he felt ashamed.

Former President Roh’s son Gun-ho was also questioned for the fifth time on who was the owner of five million dollars sent by Park Feb. 22 last year.

needjung@donga.com