Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, November 17, 1995                   TAG: 9511170066
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA                                LENGTH: Medium

PRISONER ONCE WAS PRESIDENT

Locked in a cell in a jail outside the capital, the man credited with some of South Korea's biggest diplomatic successes has become the nation's most famous prisoner.

Roh, whose name is pronounced ``No,'' is the first former South Korean president to face legal action for deeds committed while in office. If convicted, he could face 10 years to life in prison.

As court officials took him to jail, the 62-year-old former army general struggled to keep his composure and said: ``To our people, I'm really sorry. I'm ready for any punishment, taking the sole responsibility for this incident.''

It was the latest - but probably not the last - development in a slush fund scandal that gripped the nation and confirmed long-held fears that politics and industry spent decades in league.

There is widespread speculation that top corporate leaders may be charged with bribery.

The five-page warrant against Roh charges him with two counts of accepting bribes: $31 million from the Daewoo group in return for a government contract for a major submarine depot and a total of $300 million from 30 top companies.

The slush fund scandal became public Oct. 19 when an opposition legislator disclosed that one of Roh's secret bank accounts held a large sum of money.

Under mounting public pressure, Roh tearfully admitted on TV that he had collected $650 million during his term and left $230 million in secret bank accounts.

His announcement sparked a public outrage.

Just before Roh's arrest, thousands of police were deployed to prevent mobs from forming. There were no protesters as Roh's motorcade sped to the jail.

As the first former president to go to jail, Roh will receive extra security and some special treatment, according to a prison official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Roh's 130-square-foot private cell is large, the size that usually holds 16 prisoners. Other private cells are about a quarter the size of Roh's. Six guards have been assigned to protect him from attacks by inmates angered by the bribe scandal.