The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Actor Song Joong-ki still hungry for new movie roles

  • 3

    BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D'

  • 5

    Korea has world's highest senior poverty rate: data

  • 7

    4 in 10 Koreans experience overdue wages: survey

  • 9

    All BTS members renew contract with BigHit

  • 11

    K-pop fans rally in Seoul against luxury brands' failure on climate action

  • 13

    Deoksu Palace's reconstructed Dondeokjeon hall to open to public

  • 15

    Hyundai Steel decides to form steel pipe unit

  • 17

    LG Uplus, Hanwha develop ceiling-mounted EV charging system

  • 19

    SK earthon begins crude oil production in South China Sea

  • 2

    K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran

  • 4

    S. Korea flexes military might in rare parade with US in central Seoul

  • 6

    Tanghulu captures hearts of Korean millennials and Gen Z

  • 8

    Harvest season arrives

  • 10

    Korean tennis player Kwon Soon-woo eliminated in 2nd round at Hangzhou Asiad

  • 12

    Serial killer transferred to detention center in Seoul equipped with execution chamber

  • 14

    Over half of Koreans want continuous strengthening of alliance with US: poll

  • 16

    Korean gov't faces international criticism for R&D budget cuts

  • 18

    EXCLUSIVELawmakers to submit resolution urging China to free N. Korean escapees

  • 20

    S. Korea-US alliance will end NK regime in event of nuclear weapons use, Yoon says

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Wed, September 27, 2023 | 15:00
Politics
Ex-President Lee arrested over corruption
Posted : 2018-03-22 23:08
Updated : 2018-03-23 10:18
Kim Jae-heun
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
/ Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han
/ Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han
/ Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han
/ Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han

By Kim Jae-heun

The Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant for former President Lee Myung-bak, Thursday, determining that he could destroy evidence pertinent to an investigation of corruption against him. Lee was taken from his home in Gangnam to the Seoul Eastern Detention Center in Songpa-gu, after the court's ruling.

The prosecution sought the arrest warrant for Lee, Monday, over allegations that he was the de facto owner of DAS, an auto parts company at the center of corruption, embezzlement and abuse of power charges leveled at Lee.

The court had planned to summon the former president Thursday to quiz him over the prosecutors' charges, but Lee refused to attend saying he had talked enough to the prosecution during questioning March 15.

Prosecutors did not force him to appear, saying: "Giving up the opportunity to state his position in court does not mean Lee will flee. It is one of his rights to not attend questioning."
The court agreed and cancelled the hearing Wednesday.

Instead, it reviewed the legality of the arrest request based on the prosecution's documents and arguments by Lee's legal counsel.

Ex-President Lee's wife may face questioning
Ex-President Lee's wife may face questioning
2018-03-17 11:43  |  Law & Crime
Prosecution seeks to freeze ex-President Lee's asset
2018-03-16 16:36  |  Politics
Rise and fall of Lee Myung-bak
Rise and fall of Lee Myung-bak
2018-03-15 16:30  |  Thoughts of the Times
"As it is clear the suspect does not want to attend the hearing, we will skip the questioning process and decide on whether to issue an arrest warrant or not," a judge said.

Lee, who was president from 2008 to early 2013, is accused of accepting 11 billion won ($10.5 million) in bribes from various interest groups and embezzling 35 billion won through DAS, an auto parts company.

/ Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han
/ Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han
/ Korea Times photo by Baek So-ah

DAS is technically owned by Lee's eldest brother Lee Sang-eun; but many of the ex-president's close aides have stated that he is the real owner. Prosecutors suspect he created a 35 billion won slush fund via DAS, and handed over shares of the firm from his elder brother to his son Lee Si-hyung.

Former DAS CEO Kim Sung-woo, along with many other ex-company executives have confessed their involvement in amassing the illegal fund and said that Lee Myung-bak was the real owner of DAS. Kim said during questioning that he delivered 35 billion won to the ex-president.

Prosecutors believe a Nonhyeon-dong property belonged to Lee before he sold it to acquire DAS shares through a borrowed-name account.

They also suspect that Samsung group paid 6 billion won ($5 million) as a retainer to U.S. law firm Akin Gump on behalf of DAS in return for a presidential pardon for its chairman, Lee Kun-hee, in 2009. Samsung was a major client of the American law firm and the prosecution views this as a bribe.

Akin Gump helped DAS recover 14 billion won in what could have been a failed investment. In Korea, 5,500 other investors lost a combined 100 billion won in a stock-rigging scandal involving the company in 2001.

According to prosecutors, former first lady Kim Yoon-ok spent 400 million won on a DAS corporate card from the mid-1990s to late 2007, just before Lee was elected president. Kim used the card to shop at local department stores and overseas duty free shops, which the prosecutors state is more evidence Lee was and is the real owner of the company.



Emailjhkim@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1S. Korea flexes military might in rare parade with US in central Seoul S. Korea flexes military might in rare parade with US in central Seoul
2Korea has world's highest senior poverty rate: data Korea has world's highest senior poverty rate: data
3Gov't to boost Korean language education for multiethnic students Gov't to boost Korean language education for multiethnic students
4Seoul Welcome Week to return for first time since pandemicSeoul Welcome Week to return for first time since pandemic
5[INTERVIEW] Wellington mayor's love for Korean culture spurs collaboration INTERVIEWWellington mayor's love for Korean culture spurs collaboration
6For closer business ties between Korea, Vietnam For closer business ties between Korea, Vietnam
7BOK warns of worsening household debt situation BOK warns of worsening household debt situation
8Late Samsung chairman's love of animals helps change Korea's pet culture Late Samsung chairman's love of animals helps change Korea's pet culture
9POSCO International to enter US grain market POSCO International to enter US grain market
10Over 100 money changers face suspensions, fines, criminal charges Over 100 money changers face suspensions, fines, criminal charges
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[INTERVIEW] ONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince' INTERVIEWONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince'
2Kep1er unveils 'Magic Hour' with fresh perspective on love Kep1er unveils 'Magic Hour' with fresh perspective on love
3Rwandan artists bring diversity to Seoul's art scene Rwandan artists bring diversity to Seoul's art scene
4[INTERVIEW] With '30 Days,' Kang Ha-neul finds new level of comfort in acting INTERVIEWWith '30 Days,' Kang Ha-neul finds new level of comfort in acting
5K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group