Jung Yeon-je/Pool via Reuters

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean former president Lee Myung-bak was detained early on Friday on charges of taking bribes when he was in office, becoming the country’s fourth leader to end up behind bars. Lee was grilled by prosecutors earlier this month over nearly 20 charges that involve suspicions he took around 11 billion won (US$10.28 million) unlawfully from a number of institutions and individuals He denies any wrongdoing. Seoul, South Korea - A South Korean court on Thursday approved an arrest warrant for ex-President Lee Myung-bak over a range of corruption allegations, making him the latest in a series of leaders embroiled in scandals and other problems after leaving office. A grim-faced Lee Myung-Bak was driven away from his home in southern Seoul for a detention facility late Thursday, becoming the fourth former South Korean president to be arrested on corruption charges. Lee's arrest comes about one year after his conservative successor, Park Geun-hye, was ousted from office and put into jail over a separate corruption scandal that touched off months of massive street protests. South Korean prosecutors are seeking a 30-year jail term for Park and a Seoul court will deliver a verdict in early April.
Former President of South Korea Lee Myung-bak is detained on charges of taking bribes when he was in office.