South Korean ex-President Lee Myung-bak was arrested and jailed early today over a range of corruption allegations, becoming the latest in a series of disgraced leaders embroiled in scandals and other problems after leaving office.
A convoy of vehicles, including a black sedan carrying Lee, entered a detention center in Seoul after the Seoul Central District Court approved his arrest warrant, citing what it called serious alleged crimes and a possibility that he might try to destroy evidence. Prosecutors can detain him for up to 20 days before formally charging him.
"Right now, I feel it's all my fault and I have a guilty conscience rather than blaming others," Lee said in a statement issued shortly before his arrest, according to Yonhap news agency.
"Over the past 10 months, I've suffered a big pain that I couldn't endure ... I hope my arrest will relieve the pains of my family and those who worked with me."