Written bribe probe questions given to Roh

SEOUL, April 22 (UPI) -- South Korean prosecutors say they have sent written questions to former President Roh Moo-hyun before actually interviewing him in a bribery inquiry.

Hong Man-pyo, head of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's investigation planning division, told reporters the written questions were sent to Roh "as a courtesy," Yonhap, the South Korean news agency, reported Wednesday.

"As a courtesy to the former president and to shorten the time for the actual interrogation, we decided to deliver a written questionnaire on key disputed areas of the investigation," Hong said, adding prosecutors will set a summons date for Roh after receiving his response, which they hope to have in hand by the end of the week.

Law enforcement officials allege Roh's wife, Kwon Yang-sook, and an in-law accepted at least $6 million from Park Yeon-cha, head of a shoe manufacturing company, and say they suspect the president was the intended recipient of the money.

Roh admitted on his Web site that his wife took money from Park during Roh's five-year presidency, which concluded in February 2008, Yonhap said.