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Agence France-Presse

A woman pretending to be a former South Korean first lady was arrested Friday on suspicion of swindling a politician out of nearly US$400,000, a report said.
Claiming to be late president Roh Moo-hyun’s widow Kwon Yang-sook, the fraudster allegedly persuaded the then mayor of Gwangju to transfer her 450 million won (US$398,000), saying she needed it for her daughter and promising to repay it quickly.
At the time Yoon Jang-hyun, a member of the Democratic Party of both Roh and current President Moon Jae-in, was seeking the organisation’s nomination for a second term as leader of the southern city.
Corruption allegations are commonplace in South Korean politics, and its last two presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye are both serving prison sentences for corruption.
US investigates three South Korean companies over conspiracy to overcharge US military by millions of dollars
Roh himself committed suicide by jumping off a cliff in 2009 after he was questioned over a corruption case involving Kwon.
Her alleged impersonator texted around 10 prominent figures in Gwangju in December but Yoon was the only one to pay out, Yonhap news agency reported.
In the event he did not secure the mayoral nomination and has left the political scene.
Friday’s arrest came after a man was held earlier this week on charges of pretending to be close to a presidential aide in charge of managing Moon’s supposed slush funds.

The 65-year-old allegedly persuaded his victim to hand over 550 million won, promising him some of the proceeds of bars of gold bullion he claimed were stashed in a secret warehouse.
Moon – who previously worked as a top aide to Roh – last month warned South Koreans against people impersonating his family or staff.
“If you meet anyone who calls for money, citing the names of presidential relatives or Blue House officials, consider all of them as swindlers and report them immediately to authorities,” he said in a statement.


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South Korea

Woman posing as former South Korean first lady swindles politician out of nearly US$400,000

Late former South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun and his wife Kwon Yang-sook in October 2007. A woman posing as the former first lady was arrested Friday on suspicion of swindling a politician out of nearly US$400,000. Photo: Reuters

Kwon Yang-sook, wife of deceased former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, arrives on a wheelchair to attend the rites of placing the body of the late President into a coffin in his hometown, Bonghwa village in Gimhae, about 450 km (280 miles) southeast of Seoul, early May 25, 2009. South Korea's government and the family of former President Roh agreed on Sunday to hold a public funeral for the leader who likely jumped to his death after being hounded for weeks in a widening corruption scandal. REUTERS/Korea Pool (SOUTH KOREA POLITICS OBITUARY HEADSHOT IMAGES OF THE DAY) SOUTH KOREA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SOUTH KOREA

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East Asia

Claiming to be late president Roh Moo-hyun’s widow Kwon Yang-sook, the fraudster allegedly persuaded the then mayor of Gwangju to transfer her 450 million won


Crime

Scams and swindles

Woman posing as former South Korean first lady swindles politician out of nearly US$400,000

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Claiming to be late president Roh Moo-hyun’s widow Kwon Yang-sook, the fraudster allegedly persuaded the then mayor of Gwangju to transfer her 450 million won

Claiming to be late president Roh Moo-hyun’s widow Kwon Yang-sook, the fraudster allegedly persuaded the then mayor of Gwangju to transfer her 450 million won