S. Korean slush scandal, coup probes gather pace<\/p>\n
SEOUL (Reuter): A South Korean court froze former president
\nRoh Tae-woo's assets yesterday as prosecutors investigating
\nkickbacks grilled him and an ex-defense minister over a multi-
\nbillion dollar U.S. warplane purchase.<\/p>\n
Separately, prosecutors probing a 1979 military coup and a
\nlater massacre of civilians issued a written request to former
\npresident Choi Kyu-hah yesterday to appear for questioning.<\/p>\n
Choi was caretaker head of state when Chun Doo Hwan launched
\nthe coup that later thrust him to power. Chun has been arrested
\non charges of military rebellion stemming from the putsch.<\/p>\n
South Korea also paraded a captured North Korean spy on Friday
\nas its military went on higher alert over fears that Pyongyang
\nmay be tempted to make mischief because of political turmoil in
\nSeoul and its own food crisis.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors have been examining a decision during Roh's term
\nto buy 120 F-16s from General Dynamics, reversing a plan to buy
\nF-18s from McDonnell Douglas.<\/p>\n
General Dynamics was mostly acquired in 1992 by Lockheed Corp,
\nwhich merged with Martin Marietta this year to form Lockheed
\nMartin. Kim Yong-ho, vice president for the Seoul office of
\nLockheed Martin, denied any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n
\"We have not been involved in any unethical or illegal
\nbusiness in connection with the contract,\" Kim, who headed
\nGeneral Dynamics in Seoul at the time, said by telephone.<\/p>\n
\"We will actively cooperate with prosecutors' investigations
\nin the hope the whole truth will be revealed.\"<\/p>\n
An official with the Seoul District Criminal Court said an
\norder was issued freezing Roh's property rights and bank accounts
\nunearthed by prosecutors.<\/p>\n
Roh, who along with seven chairmen of major corporations was
\nindicted on Tuesday on bribery charges, owns a Seoul mansion and
\nhas other real estate investments. He has confessed to amassing a
\nUS$654 million slush fund during his 1988-93 term in office.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors have charged Roh with accepting bribes worth $369
\nmillion, and say they have accounted for $548 million of his ill-
\ngotten money. Under South Korean law, Roh could have his assets
\nseized upon conviction. His trial starts on Dec. 18.<\/p>\n
Former defense minister Lee Jong-koo was brought in for
\nquestioning over the F-16 deal, reached in 1991 as part of a
\n$18.2 billion military build-up. Lee held office from 1990-91.<\/p>\n
Roh was also quizzed by prosecutors over the General Dynamics
\ndeal and said the decision to buy F-16s was based on
\nconsiderations over South Korea's terrain and cost, the domestic
\nYonhap news agency said. He denied taking money, it added.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a prosecution official said by telephone a written
\nrequest had been issued to former president Choi asking him to
\nappear as a witness to answer questions over the 1979 putsch and
\nmassacre at Kwangju in May 1980.<\/p>\n
Choi was caretaker head of state following the assassination
\nof president Park Chung-hee in October 1979. He was toppled after
\nChun led the military coup in December 1979.<\/p>\n
South Korean media have quoted Choi's aides as saying he would
\nnot comply with any summons because of ill health.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors resumed questioning Chun on Thursday over the coup
\nand massacre, but no details were available. Chun, who could face
\nthe death penalty if convicted of mutiny, had not been quizzed
\nsince a marathon grilling the day of his arrest.<\/p>\n
Earlier yesterday, 33-year-old North Korean agent Kim Dong-
\nshik said his mission when he was caught in October was to bring
\nhome two colleagues. He said he had successfully accomplished a
\nsimilar mission in 1990.<\/p>\n
He was captured after a shootout with security forces in the
\ncountry's southern hills. His companion escaped the gunfight with
\na minor flesh-wound but was killed in a second clash with troops
\nand police several days later after a massive manhunt.<\/p>",
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