Opposition lawmaker Roh Hoe-chan jumps to death amid bribery scandal

Jul 23, 2018, 06:01 pm

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Photographed by Song Ui-joo (songuijoo@)

AsiaToday reporter Maeng Sung-kyu

Rep. Roh Hoe-chan, 61, floor leader of the progressive Justice Party, was found dead on Monday amid an investigation into allegations that he accepted illegal political funds from a power blogger nicknamed Druking.

The body of the prominent opposition lawmaker was found near the entrance of the apartment building in Seoul at 9:38 a.m., and a security guard reported to the police of the finding, police said.

Police found suicide notes in a jacket Roh left on the stairs between the building's 17th and 18th floors. Roh's ID and business cards were also found in the jacket, police said.

In the note, Roh admitted to receiving money regarding the Druking case, but he said there was any request for favor nor did he promise anything in return.

Roh has been under an investigation into suspicions that he accepted 50 million won (US$44,333) from an aide to Druking jailed over an online opinion-rigging scandal. The allegation discolored Roh's clean and reformist image.

Officials said they're not going to conduct an autopsy on Roh's body as there is no suspicion surrounding his death and his family doesn't want one.

A mourning altar for Roh was set up at Yonsei University's Severance Hospital in Seoul.

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