Roh's Jailed Aides to Attend Friday Funeral

Roh’s graveyard in Bongha: Kwon Yang-sook, wife of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, fifth from left, and his elder brother Geon-pyeong, in front of her, talk to family members about the graveyard for Roh at Bongha Village in South Gyeongsang Province, Tuesday. The funeral will be held Friday. / Korea Times Photo by Wang Tae-seog

By Park Si-soo

Staff Reporter

Aides of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun imprisoned over a bribery scandal that prompted Roh to take his own life will be allowed to attend his funeral scheduled for Friday in Seoul.

The Seoul Central District Court said Tuesday that three confidants ㅡ Chung Sang-moon, Lee Kang-chul, and Rep. Lee Kwang-jae ㅡ will be paroled from jail from noon Wednesday until 5 p.m. Friday.

The court ordered them to remain at home and only attend funeral related events.

The prosecution did not object to the decision.

Chung Sang-moon, the late President's ``brother-like'' friend and former secretary, is in custody awaiting trial for stealing presidential funds totaling 1.25 billion won during Roh's presidency.

Lee Kang-chul, the former senior presidential secretary for civic and social affairs, has been indicted with physical detention on charges of taking bribes from businessmen.

Rep. Lee Kwang-jae of the opposition Democratic Party, dubbed Roh`s ``right-hand man,'' was arrested in March for taking money from Park Yeon-cha ㅡ the CEO of shoemaker Taekwang, and the ex-head of state's financial backer.

Kang Geum-won, CEO of Changshin Textile and another financial supporter of Roh, was set free on bail due to failing health ㅡ nearly 50 days since his detention in early April for embezzling funds from his company.

``Kang has been diagnosed with a brain tumor,'' the Dajeon Provincial Court said. ``It was confirmed through multiple medical tests that he needs urgent and intensive treatment.''

Roh's elder brother, Geon-pyeong, has also been given a provisional release Saturday. He must return to a prison by Friday 5 p.m.

He was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of receiving nearly three billion won from a business executive in exchange for political favors.

[출처 : 코리아타임스]