Roh Moo-hyun’s brother quizzed in Sung scandal

An elder brother of late President Roh Moo-hyun was summoned Wednesday for allegedly exerting his influence in securing a special presidential pardon for Sung Woan-jong, a business tycoon who committed suicide in April.

Roh Gun-pyeong is suspected of pressuring government officials to allow Sung to be pardoned at the end of his brother’s term in 2007.

The summons is part of the investigation into the “bribery list” that Sung left before he killed himself.

In 2007, the businessman was sentenced to a six-month of jail term suspended for one year over charges of breach of duties. One month after Sung gave up his appeal, he was put on a special pardon list despite the Justice Ministry’s objections.

The prosecution reportedly secured testimony from a high-ranking official of Sung’s company that he had asked the president’s brother for a pardon.

The official and the elder Roh had reportedly been tight as they grew up in the same neighborhood, sources said.

Investigators are looking into whether the elder Roh accepted any kickbacks from the late Sung, the prosecution said.

The ex-president’s brother denied the charges, saying that “although the aides of Sung tried to reach me, I flatly rejected.”

He was previously involved in a number of graft scandals. He served a prison term for corruption charges in 2008.

By Lee Hyun-jeong (rene@heraldcorp.com)