Lee Myung-bak arrested on corruption charges

SEOUL - South Korean ex-president Lee Myung-bak was arrested and jailed early on Friday over a range of corruption allegations, becoming the latest in a series of disgraced leaders embroiled in scandals and other problems after leaving office.

The Seoul Central District Court decided to put Lee, who served his five-year presidential term through early 2013, under custody as he denied almost all of the alleged wrongdoings, and even basic facts found by an investigation.

The denial raised the possibility that evidence was destroyed, and the charges against Lee are justified, the court said.