简体中文
Former South Korean president Lee Myung-bak reported to prosecutors for questioning in a corruption probe Wednesday and apologized for the controversy. "I'm very sorry for causing concern to the people," Lee said on arrival at the prosecutors' office in Seoul.
The investigation into Lee means all living former South Korean presidents have been convicted, charged, or embroiled in criminal inquiries.
Allegations of corruption involving the 76-year-old's relatives and aides during his 2008-2013 presidential term have mounted in recent weeks as prosecutors investigate multiple cases of bribery amounting to millions of dollars.
Two of the ex-president's former aides have been arrested and the homes and offices of his brothers raided.
The allegations include claims that the Samsung Group bought a presidential pardon in 2009 for its chairman Lee Kun-hee, who had been convicted of tax evasion and given a suspended jail sentence.
Samsung reportedly paid six billion won (5.6 million US dollars) in legal fees to a US law firm on the former president's behalf.
Lee would be the fourth president of South Korea to be questioned by investigators following detained ex-leader Park Geun-hye.
Park was ousted last year over a massive corruption scandal that emerged in 2016. The verdict in her trial on charges of bribery and abuse of power is due next month, with prosecutors demanding 30 years in jail.
Lee's own predecessor, the liberal Roh Moo-hyun, committed suicide by jumping off a cliff after being questioned over corruption allegations in 2009.
(CGTN)
