S Korean ex-president Lee Sent to prison for 17 years

Former South Korean president Lee Myung-bak was ordered back to prison yesterday as the country's Supreme Court upheld a 17-year jail term for bribery and embezzlement offences. The conservative Lee, who served as president from 2008 to 2013, had been out on bail awaiting the ruling and was not in court for the decision.  The ruling is not subject to further appeal and at age 78 means Lee is likely to die in prison unless he receives a presidential pardon. Lee was first convicted in late 2018 and jailed. The Supreme Court yesterday upheld his conviction for embezzling 25.2 billion won ($22 million) and accepting bribes totalling 9.4 billion won, as well as the 17-year sentence.