SOUTH KOREA
Lawmakers held in anti-corruption net
A former top election campaigner for South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun and five other key politicians were jailed Jan. 10 in a sweeping anti-corruption drive, prosecutors said.
The most outstanding figure among the six jailed was Chyung Dai Chul, who served as the head of Roh's campaign during the presidential election in December 2002.
Chyung, who chaired the former governing Millennium Democratic Party, was charged with accepting a total of $750 million from three companies, including Daewoo Construction Co. in 2002 and 2003.
Last month prosecutors indicted six of Roh's close allies for engaging in illegal fund raising during the presidential election season.
Investigators said around $3.3 million had been illegally amassed for the Roh camp.
Last month Roh said if his aides were found to have accepted more than a tenth of illegal donations received by the opposition Grand National Party, he would resign.
The Japan Times Weekly: Jan. 17, 2004 (C) All rights reserved
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