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SKOREA-CORRUPTION-LEE-POLITICS
S. Korea ex-president Lee jailed for 15 years over corruption
SEOUL, Oct 5, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Former South Korean president Lee Myung-bak
was jailed for 15 years for corruption Friday, becoming the latest of the
country’s ex-leaders to be sent to prison.
The 76-year-old CEO-turned-president, who served from 2008 to 2013, was
found guilty on charges including bribery and embezzlement and ordered to pay
a fine of 13 billion won ($11.5 million) by the Seoul Central District Court.
“Bringing everything into consideration, heavy punishment for the accused
is inevitable,” said a judge during the trial that was live televised.
Lee was not in attendance, citing ill-health.
The former South Korean leader was indicted in April on 16 charges that
included bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power.
The court found that Lee was the de-facto owner of DAS — a controversial
auto parts company which he claimed was his brother’s — which he used to
create slush funds of around 24 billion won.
Lee was also found guilty of accepting nearly six billion won from Samsung
Electronics in return for a presidential pardon for its chairman Lee Kun-hee,
who was jailed for tax evasion.
Both Samsung and Lee have denied any wrongdoing.
BSS/AFP/GMR/1311 hrs