S Korean held over oil-for-food

[DoYouEverWonder]

7 January 2006

A South Korean man accused of accepting cash from Saddam Hussein has been held in the US as part of the probe into the United Nations oil-for-food programme.

Tongsun Park, a businessman and lobbyist, is accused of conspiring to subvert the scheme, which was misused by the former Iraqi leader.

Mr Park received at least $2m (£1.13m) from Baghdad for influencing the programme, according to charges.

The scheme was set up to help Iraqis, but was tainted by corruption.

FBI agents arrested Tongsun Park in Houston, Texas, officials said.

The charges against him were first published in April 2005, but were amended ahead of his arrest to include accusations that he worked directly as an Iraqi agent.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4589942.stm

It turns out Parks has an interesting past. Back in the 80's he was in the middle of the Koreagate scandal. He was an agent for KCIA, a subsidiary of our own CIA. Plus he's connected to the Moonies.