Public Prosecution Office books Ambassador to China Noh Jae-heon as suspect in 'Roh Tae-woo slush fund suspicion'

The Public Prosecution Service, which is investigating allegations of concealment of slush funds by former President Roh Tae-woo's family, has booked former President Roh's son, South Korean Ambassador to China Noh Jae-heon, as a suspect.

According to the legal community on the 10th, the Seoul Central District Public Prosecution Office's Crime Proceeds Recovery Department (Chief Prosecutor So Jeong-soo) recently booked Ambassador Noh on charges of violating the Act on Concealment of Crime Proceeds.

The Public Prosecution Office suspects that some of former President Roh's family's slush funds flowed into the East Asia Cultural Foundation, where Ambassador Roh is the chairman, and the Roh Tae-woo Center.

The slush fund suspicions arose when the existence of funds presumed to be former President Roh Tae-woo's slush fund was revealed during the divorce proceedings between SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Noh So-young, director of the Nabi Art Center.

Former Director Roh's side argued in the appeal trial of the divorce suit that former President Roh's family had substantially helped SK grow, and submitted two memos written by First Lady Kim Ok-sook 20 years ago and six promissory notes worth 5 billion won issued by Sunkyung Construction.

It is reported that the memo contains details of funds totaling 90.4 billion won.

Based on this, Director Noh So-young claimed that 30 billion won of former President Roh's funds were transferred to his in-law, former SK Group Chairman Choi Jong-hyun, and used for Sunkyung Group's management activities.

The Public Prosecution Office has continued its investigation after receiving a complaint from the May 18 Memorial Foundation and others alleging that former President Roh's family, including Ms. Kim Ok-sook, Director Roh, and Ambassador Roh, hid slush funds and evaded taxes.

Last August, Ms. Kim's home in Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, the East Asia Cultural Foundation, and the Roh Tae-woo Center were searched and seized.

Acting Minister of Justice Lee Jin-soo (Vice Minister of Justice) said in relation to the suspicion of slush funds during the comprehensive audit of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 26th of last month, "We have received a criminal complaint and are conducting an investigation," and "The Crime Proceeds Recovery Department is conducting a follow-up investigation into the source of the foundation's funds."

The Public Prosecution Service plans to summon Ambassador Roh soon. However, it has been reported that a specific attendance date has not yet been announced.

This case was investigated by prosecutors before the Prosecutor's Office was converted to the Public Prosecution Office on the 2nd of last month, and the Public Prosecution Office can continue the investigation until December 30 in accordance with the 'transitional measures for jurisdictional affairs' provisions of the Public Prosecution Service Act.