Former S-Korean President Lee Myung-bak jailed for 15yrs over corruption
What's the story
Former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has been jailed for 15 years for corruption today, 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.
Information
Lee was indicted on 16 charges including bribery, embezzlement
"Bringing everything into consideration, heavy punishment for the accused is inevitable," said a judge during the trial. 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.
Scandals
Lee accepted 6bn won for pardoning scandal-tainted Samsung chairman
The court found that Lee was the defacto owner of DAS, a controversial auto parts company, which he claimed was his brother's, but used it to create slush funds of around 24 billion won.
Lee was also found guilty of accepting nearly 6bn won from Samsung Electronics in return for a presidential pardon for its chairman Lee Kun-hee, who was jailed for tax evasion.
Allegations
Samsung denies wrongdoing, ex-legal counsel brings forth shocking details
Both Samsung and Lee have denied any wrongdoing.
However, in 2010, the company's former chief legal counsel, Kim Yong-Chul, published a book called "Think Samsung".
It revealed shocking alleged details of Kun-hee's personal corruption, claiming he stole up to 10 trillion won (approx $8.9 billion) from Samsung subsidiaries, destroyed evidence, and bribed government officials to ensure the smooth transfer of power to his son.