South Korean prosecutors on Monday handed in a 207-page account to ask the court to warrant pretrial arrest of former President Lee Myung-bak on multiple “serious” criminal counts including bribery, embezzlement and power abuse.

When granted, the president of 2008-2013 will become Korea’s fourth former elected head of state to be arrested after Chun Doo-hwan, Roh Tae-woo in 1995 and Park Geun-hye in 2017.

A Seoul court will hold a hearing on Wednesday and decide by the next morning whether to grant the pretrial arrest.

“Each count is serious to demand detention before trial," said a prosecutor upon filing the request for warrant.

The prosecution is confident of the court agreeing to its argument as it is backed by a rich file of “objective” documental evidence and testimonies from key witnesses, he said. It is pressing for arrest warrant as it fears the former president who denies all the charges can collaborate with others to tamper with evidence or testimonies.

Lee is accused of committing six criminal violations - bribery by taking in 11 billion won ($10.3 million) from the state spy agency and conglomerates including Samsung Group, tax evasion, power abuse, sovereign wealth loss and embezzlement by creating 35 billion won in slush funds, and breach of president records management law, and faces related 10 criminal counts.

The prosecution is convinced that he is the real owner of DAS, an auto parts maker that he used as a channel to create slush funds. Lee had been accused of rigging the stock price of BBK, an investment firm, as a real owner, while running for president in 2007. He was later cleared of all charges.

Lee was summoned by the prosecution on March 14 for 21-hour-long questioning.

By Lee Hyun-jung and Choi Mira

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