ZCZC
BFF-20
POLITICS-CORRUPTION-SKOREA
Former South Korean president jailed after losing appeal
SEOUL, Feb 19, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Former South Korean president Lee Myung-
bak was taken to prison Wednesday to begin a 17-year term for bribery and
embezzlement after losing an appeal against a lighter sentence.
Lee, in office from 2008 to 2013, was briefly jailed in 2018 after being
sentenced to 15 years and fined 13 billion won ($11 million), but was granted
bail while he appealed.
He was found guilty of creating slush funds of tens of millions of dollars
and accepting bribes from Samsung Electronics in return for a presidential
pardon for its chairman, Lee Kun-hee, who was jailed for tax evasion.
At a hearing on Wednesday, Seoul’s Central District Court ordered a
heavier sentence, saying Lee “did not show a sign of remorse or sense of
responsibility” for his wrongdoings.
He instead blamed civil servants he worked with and Samsung employees, the
court said.
Several South Korean presidents have ended up in prison after leaving
office — often as a result of investigations started by political rivals.
Lee’s successor, Park Geun-hye, is currently serving 32 years in jail for
bribery and abuse of power after being ousted in 2017 over a nationwide
corruption scandal that prompted massive street protests.
Another former leader, Roh Moo-hyun, committed suicide after being
questioned in a corruption probe involving his family.
BSS/AFP/FI/1346 hrs