Prosecutors Deny Request for Suspension of Sentence Execution for Former President Lee Myung-bak

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Former President Lee Myung-bak, who is incarcerated at Seoul Eastern Detention Center, applied for a suspension of sentence execution due to concerns over infection with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), but the request was denied.

According to the legal community on the 31st, Lee's side submitted an application to the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office on the 23rd requesting a suspension of sentence execution, but the prosecution notified them of the denial the day before. The prosecution reportedly decided this because they judged that Lee was not in a condition dangerous enough to warrant suspension of sentence execution.

Former President Lee was sentenced to 17 years in prison by the Supreme Court on charges including embezzlement and bribery, and was incarcerated at Seoul Eastern Detention Center on the 2nd of last month. Lee tested negative in the first COVID-19 test conducted at the detention center on the 17th, and was later hospitalized at Seoul National University Hospital for treatment of underlying conditions, thus being excluded from the second test.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.