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S Korea ex-leader set for probe S Korea ex-leader in bribe probe
(40 minutes later)
South Korea's former president has apologised for a corruption scandal as he left his rural hometown to face questioning over alleged bribe-taking. South Korea's former president is being questioned over allegations that he took millions of dollars in bribes from a wealthy businessman.
In a statement, Roh Moo-hyun said: "I feel ashamed before my fellow citizens. I am sorry for disappointing you." Prosecutors have to decide whether to charge Roh Moo-hyun, who came to power in 2003 promising his administration would be free from foul play.
Mr Roh has been summoned as a suspect in the case but prosecutors have yet to decide whether to charge him. Before leaving his rural hometown for Seoul, he apologised for the scandal.
Mr Roh came to power in 2003 partly on an anti-corruption ticket, and served until 2008. "I feel ashamed before my fellow citizens. I am sorry for disappointing you," he said in a televised statement.
As he left his home on Thursday morning Mr Roh bowed to waiting reporters, and made his apology in front of the television cameras. Mr Roh was taken by police escort to the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office in the capital.
Under a police escort, and followed every inch of the way by TV news helicopters, his convoy then set off for the five-hour journey to Seoul. Questioning is expected to last late into Thursday night or even early Friday.
He will face questioning at the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office over corruption allegations.
ExcessesExcesses
Mr Roh came to power promising his administration would be free from foul play, but the former president, who left office last year, now faces accusations that he took millions of dollars in bribes from a businessman friend, the wealthy head of a shoe manufacturing company. The former president, who left office last year, faces accusations that he took millions of dollars in bribes from the wealthy head of a shoe manufacturing company.
At one point a bag containing the equivalent of one million dollars in cash is said to have been delivered to the presidential office. At one point a bag containing the equivalent of $1m in cash is said to have been delivered to the presidential office.
In a statement posted on his website earlier this month, Mr Roh admitted that his wife received a substantial sum of money from the businessman, but suggested it was not a bribe, but a payment to help her settle a debt.In a statement posted on his website earlier this month, Mr Roh admitted that his wife received a substantial sum of money from the businessman, but suggested it was not a bribe, but a payment to help her settle a debt.
For the South Korean public, the allegations are a reminder of an era many hoped had passed, in which former presidents found themselves embroiled in corruption scandals, and sometimes convicted and jailed for their excesses. The BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul says that for the South Korean public, the allegations are a reminder of an era many hoped had passed, in which former presidents found themselves embroiled in corruption scandals, and sometimes convicted and jailed for their excesses.