Ex-president spends first night behind bars

By Kim Hyun-bin

Former President Lee Myung-bak spent his first night behind bars at the Seoul Eastern Detention Center after his arrest on several corruption charges Thursday.

A Seoul court approved an arrest warrant late Thursday night for Lee on charges of bribery, embezzlement, tax evasion and abuse of power.

He allegedly took more than 11 billion won ($10.2 million) from the state spy agency and businesses. He is also suspected of embezzling about 35 billion won from a company he allegedly owns.

If convicted on all charges, the 76-year-old could face up to 45 years in prison.

About 100 people waited in front of the detention center to witness the former president's arrival.

One person threw an egg at the vehicle carrying Lee as it arrived just after midnight, while a few others held signs celebrating his arrest.

“Former President Lee went through the same acceptance procedures as others and had been placed at the Seoul Eastern Detention Center; nothing significant happened during the process,” the Ministry of Justice said.

“In accordance with the law regarding respectful treatment of ex-presidents, we have placed Lee by himself in a single room and have a personal prison guard for safe custody.”

On arrival, the prison guard jotted down Lee's personal information, including name, social security number and address. He then conducted a physical exam while confiscating Lee's personal items.

After a shower, the former president changed into prison clothes that had an identification number over his left breast.

Lee was also photographed before entering the cell.

The cell is 13.07 square meters, nearly double the size of an ordinary cell at 6.56 square meters. It contains a toilet, TV, sink and basic furniture, such as a mirror, desk and cleaning utensils.

Lee is on the building's top floor, the 12th. He is expected to be the only prisoner on the floor as part of the respectful treatment of ex-presidents.

“The items in the cell are the same as other regular cells. Meals and bedtime will be the same as other inmates,” a detention center spokesperson said.

Lee is said to have had a sleepless first night.

For breakfast, Lee was served bread, jam, soy milk and cabbage salad. How much he ate has not been revealed.

After each meal, Lee, just like other inmates, has to do the dishes and return them.

Prosecutors said they had no plans to question Lee Friday to give him time to rest.

They can hold the ex-president in custody for up to 20 days until a formal charge has been issued. Lee's detention is set to expire on April 10.

Lee was president from 2008 to early 2013 and has been the focus of a prosecution probe for about five months.