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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| S Korea ex-leader in bribe probe | S Korea ex-leader in bribe probe |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| South Korea's former president is being questioned over allegations that he took millions of dollars in bribes from a wealthy businessman. | South Korea's former president is being questioned over allegations that he took millions of dollars in bribes from a wealthy businessman. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Before leaving his rural hometown for Seoul, he apologised for the scandal. | Before leaving his rural hometown for Seoul, he apologised for the scandal. |
| "I feel ashamed before my fellow citizens. I am sorry for disappointing you," he said in a televised statement. | "I feel ashamed before my fellow citizens. I am sorry for disappointing you," he said in a televised statement. |
| Mr Roh was taken by police escort to the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office in the capital. | Mr Roh was taken by police escort to the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office in the capital. |
| Questioning is expected to last late into Thursday or even early Friday. | |
| Excesses | Excesses |
| 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. | 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 $1m (£670,000) 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. |
| 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. | 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. |