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Late Roh's brother to be cleared of latest bribery suspicion

Oct. 4, 2012 - 19:10 By 이주희

CHANGWON (Yonhap News) -- An elder brother of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun is expected to be cleared of suspicions that he is related to tens of billions of won (tens of millions of U.S. dollars) in a businessman's bank account, prosecution sources said Thursday.

In May, prosecutors said they had discovered several tens of billions of won in the bank account owned by Roh Geon-pyeong's close acquaintance, a businessman surnamed Park. At that time, prosecutors here argued that the bank account backed allegations that the elder Roh took bribes in exchange for influence peddling.

Wrapping up a four-month investigation into the allegations, prosecutors have decided not to charge the elder Roh and concluded that much of the money was Park's business payment, sources said.

The elder Roh is currently indicted for separate allegations that he received 1.35 billion won in kickbacks to influence the award of a land reclamation project in 2007 while the late president was in office. 

The former president jumped off a cliff behind his retirement home and died in May 2009, a year after leaving office, amid a widening probe by prosecutors over allegations his family members accepted illicit funds.