The fourth in the history of the country and the second in recent times, together with Park Geun-hye. He faces 12 charges, including corruption, embezzlement, tax evasion and abuse of power. He risks 45 years in prison. The reactions of the South Korean political world.
Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Lee Myung-bak, South Korean president from 2008 to 2013, was arrested today for alleged corruption. He is the fourth personality to have held office to be taken into custody for suspected corruption and the second in recent months, after the arrest of Park Geun-hye, for whom the prosecutor has requested 30 years in prison.
The arrest warrant, approved last night and executed in the early hours of today, allows the prosecutor to retain the former leader for up to 20 days, and forward the formal accusation by April 10.
Su Lee has a long list of charges, at least 12, including bribes, embezzlement, tax evasion and abuse of power. The former president is accused of having collected a total of 11 billion won (about 8.4 million euros) in bribes received from the secret services and from various companies and businessmen. Lee is also suspected of stealing 35 billion won from a company he secretly owns, also evading related taxes. If found guilty of all charges against him, he could be sentenced to a sentence of up to 45 years in prison.
The news of his arrest triggered mixed reactions in the political arena of the country: while the ruling Democratic Party of Korea applauded the arrest and the "end of an era of corruption", the conservative opposition denounces a "political revenge" "by the government of President Moon Jae-in.