President Lee Myung-bak's elder brother was jailed early Wednesday morning after a Seoul court issued a warrant to arrest him on bribery charges.
The Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday approved the prosecutors' request for the arrest warrant for Lee Sang-Deuk, who allegedly took 600 million won some 525-thousand U.S. dollars from chairmen of two troubled savings banks -- Solomon Savings Bank and Mirae Savings Bank -- from 2007 to 2011 in return for helping them avoid regulatory audits and punishment.
A judge at the court said Lee's crimes had been ascertained and there was reasonable concern that he might attempt to destroy evidence, considering his status and political influence.
He is currently being held at the Seoul Detention Center on the southern outskirts of the capital.
Lee Sang-deuk, a former lawmaker of the ruling party, has become the first brother of a sitting president to be put under arrest in modern Korean history, dealing a serious blow to President Lee, who is in his final months in office.

Reporter : slim@arirang.co.kr