South Korea's ambassador to China booked on charges of concealing criminal proceeds

Prosecutors investigating allegations of a secret slush fund tied to the family of former President Roh Tae-woo have booked Noh Jae-heon, South Korea's ambassador to China and the former president's son, as a suspect and are expected to summon him for questioning.

The Criminal Proceeds Recovery Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecution Service, led by Chief Prosecutor So Jeong-su, recently booked Noh on charges including violation of the Act on Regulation and Punishment of Criminal Proceeds Concealment.

Prosecutors are examining whether some of the former president's alleged slush fund money flowed into the East Asia Culture Foundation and the Roh Tae-woo Center, both of which Noh chairs.

The allegations surfaced during the divorce proceedings between Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, and Noh So-young, director of Art Center Nabi, when a memo written by former first lady Kim Ok-suk related to the slush fund was made public.

Prosecutors raided Kim's home and related foundations in August and have since been tracing the flow of funds.

Authorities plan to summon Noh in the near future to determine how the slush fund was created and concealed.

Because the investigation began before the prosecution service was formally established, transitional regulations allow it to continue the probe directly through Dec. 30.