Former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak was arrested Thursday on a number of corruption charges from bribery and embezzlement to tax evasion, according to Yonhap news agency.
Lee, the 76-year-old conservative who led the country from 2008 to 2013, is accused of taking millions of dollars in bribes from a range of individuals and organizations, including his own intelligence agency.
“Other charges include abuse of power, breach of trust, illegally stashing presidential documents and a violation of election law,” Yonhap reported.
If Lee is convicted on all charges, the former president faces up to 45 years in prison.
In a Facebook post uploaded quickly before the arrest warrant was issued, Lee wrote, “This whole thing is my fault,” and that the former leader feels a “sense of guilt.”
However, Lee has denied all charges and deemed the investigation as “political revenge” by Moon Jae-in’s administration.
Lee is not the only former top South Korean official facing legal challenges.
His successor, President Park Geun-hye, was impeached last year after charges of corruption were levied against her.
Park is currently in South Korean prison and is facing a prison sentence that could be up to 30 years.
