South Korea ex-president Lee jailed for 15 years over corruption

Lee was not in attendance, citing ill-health and in protest against the court’s decision to televise the ruling.

Lee earlier dismissed what prosecutors say are “incriminating” documents and testimony from his relatives and aides as “fabrications”.

His lawyer called the ruling “extremely regrettable” and said the court’s finding of Lee as the de-facto owner of DAS “hard to understand”.

He told reporters that he will discuss appealing the verdict with Lee and reach a decision by Monday, according to Yonhap.

South Korean presidents have a tendency to end up in prison after their time in power – usually once their political rivals have moved into the presidential Blue House.

All four former South Korean presidents who are still alive have now been convicted for criminal offences.

Conservative Lee’s successor Park Geun-hye was sentenced to 25 years in prison and fined millions of dollars for bribery and abuse of power.

She was ousted last year over a nationwide corruption scandal that prompted massive street protests.

Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo, former army generals who served as president through the 1980s to early 1990s, served jail terms for corruption and treason after leaving office.

Both Chun and Roh received presidential pardons after serving about two years.

Another former leader, Roh Moo-hyun, committed suicide after becoming embroiled in a corruption probe.

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