S. Korea's Roh jailed on bribery charges<\/p>\n
SEOUL (Reuter): Former South Korean president Roh Tae-woo was
\narrested and jailed yesterday on charges of taking bribes worth
\nmore than US$300 million from business conglomerates while in
\noffice.<\/p>\n
Roh, the first former or current head of state to be charged
\nwith a crime, was pelted with eggs as he was driven in a black
\nlimousine through the entrance of the Seoul Detention House.<\/p>\n
"Roh Tae-woo. Thief!" several bystanders chanted at the
\nretired four-star general who has admitted to amassing $654
\nmillion during his 1988-93 term.<\/p>\n
Minutes earlier, Roh apologized to the nation on the steps of
\nthe Seoul Prosecutor General's office.<\/p>\n
"I'm really sorry," he said. "I will take all responsibility
\nand any punishment."<\/p>\n
A 1,000-page arrest warrant said 30 tycoons gave kickbacks to
\nRoh worth between 500 million won ($650,000) and 25 billion won
\n($32.5 million), according to a Seoul district court judge.<\/p>\n
Among them were the chairmen of the powerful Daewoo group,
\naccused of giving Roh 10 billion won ($13 million) in return for
\na contract to build a submarine base, and the chief executive of
\nthe Dong Ah group, a major construction concern.<\/p>\n
"He did not admit all the bribery charges against him," the
\njudge told reporters. "He admitted that he took money but said he
\ncould not remember exactly who gave him the money and when and
\nwhere he received it."<\/p>\n
Roh was driven to jail in the back seat of the limousine
\nflanked by two prosecution officials.<\/p>\n
Several dozen blue-uniformed security guards surrounded the
\nvehicle as it passed through the high steel doors of the inner
\nlock-up, leaving behind several hundred reporters.<\/p>\n
Roh was given a prison number and was taken for a medical
\ncheck-up. He was led to an unheated cell with guards standing 24-
\nhour watch outside to protect him from other prisoners.<\/p>\n
Strained<\/p>\n
Looking strained after about 28 hours spent with prosecutors,
\nRoh said in his apology he regretted harming South Korea's
\nbusiness community. He was not handcuffed.<\/p>\n
"What really hurts is that many businessmen have suffered
\nbecause of me. I hope you give them help and encouragement not to
\nlag behind in international competitiveness," he said in stern,
\nmeasured tones.<\/p>\n
He said he hoped good could come out of the scandal.<\/p>\n
"I hope politicians will clean away distrust and feuding among
\nthemselves and establish a new political culture through
\ncompromise, mutual understanding and cooperation for our
\nsuccessors," he said.<\/p>\n
South Koreans, furious at corruption and greed among
\npoliticians, gloated at news of Roh's demise, with many calling
\nhim a crook who deserved no pity.<\/p>\n
"He is a thief and he deserves to be arrested," said
\nbusinessman Kim Dae-kyu.<\/p>\n
"It's sad that a former president has to go to prison, but he
\nhas to be punished," said one of Roh's neighbors.<\/p>\n
Roh was hauled before prosecutors on Wednesday, one day after
\nthreatening to spill the beans on his financing of the 1992
\npresidential election campaign.<\/p>\n
Veteran opposition Kim Dae-jung has admitted accepting $2.6
\nmillion from Roh and has announced a "do or die" war against his
\narchrival President Kim Young-sam, who he alleges took hundreds
\nof millions of dollars.<\/p>\n
President Kim has said he did not receive "a single cent".<\/p>\n
As Roh arrived in jail, the domestic Yonhap news agency quoted
\nKim as saying "it is an unhappy and shameful incident".<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/s-koreas-roh-jailed-on-bribery-charges-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}