S. Korean top court upholds former president's sentence

ANKARA (AA) - South Korean top court on Thursday upheld a 17-year prison sentence of former president Lee Myung-bak on corruption charges, local media reported.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Supreme Court has upheld the high court verdict that handed down 17 years in prison with a fine of 13 billion won (US$10.9 million) in February.

Lee Myung-bak, 78, who ruled the country from 2008 to 2013, was charged in April 2018 with 16 counts of criminal allegations, including embezzlement in connection with the auto parts company DAS and receiving bribes, according to the agency.

The court ruled that Lee syphoned 25.2 billion won ($22.25 million) from DAS company and accepted bribes totaling 9.4 billion won ($8 million).

Lee has firmly denied the charges, claiming the case was politically motivated.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid