Lee Myung-bak's prison sentence suspended for 3 months

Prosecutors on Tuesday evening suspended former President Lee Myung-bak's prison sentence for three months on grounds of ill health, less than two years after the Supreme Court finalized a 17-year sentence for corruption.

Former President Lee Myung-bak leaves the Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno District, central Seoul on Feb. 10, 2021. Lee's prison sentence was suspended on Tuesday on grounds of his deteriorating health. [YONHAP]

Prosecutors on Tuesday evening suspended former President Lee Myung-bak's prison sentence for three months on grounds of ill health, less than two years after the Supreme Court finalized a 17-year sentence for corruption.

The Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office decided to release Lee from the Anyang Correctional Facility after he requested a suspension of his sentence earlier this month due to his deteriorating health.

The 81-year-old Lee, who served as president from 2008 to 2013, was convicted of embezzlement and bribery in October 2018, which were upheld by the Supreme Court in October 2020.

The Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office convened a committee composed of the district office chief and outside experts, including academic, medical and judicial professionals, on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the former president’s situation.

According to the Criminal Procedure Act, jail sentences can be suspended if prolonged imprisonment is determined to pose a risk to the health or life of an inmate.

Lee has been in and out of the hospital due to chronic illnesses, including diabetes. He was admitted to Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul last week for examination and treatment.

Five years after leaving office, Lee was arrested in March 2018 on charges of bribery, embezzlement and tax evasion alleged to have occurred during his presidency, with prosecutors saying he took bribes totaling 11 billion won ($8.5 million) and funnelled assets worth 35 billion won to an illicit slush fund.

Lee was convicted in October 2018 and sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined 13 billion won.

He was released on bail in March 2019 while he appealed the sentence, but was jailed again in February 2020 when he lost again. He was released six days later after he challenged the cancellation of his bail.

Following the Supreme Court’s final ruling, he was imprisoned in November 2020.

Lee’s arrest came six months after his successor and fellow conservative Park Geun-hye was convicted in a separate corruption scandal.

Park was pardoned by former President Moon Jae-in in December, also on grounds on ill health.

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]