SEOUL, March 19 (Xinhua) -- South Korean prosecutors on Monday requested an arrest warrant on former President Lee Myung-bak over a number of corruption charges.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office called for a Seoul court to issue a warrant to arrest Lee, who served out his five-year presidential term through early 2013, according to local media reports.

About 18 counts of corruption, including bribery, embezzlement, breach of trust and tax evasion, were levied against Lee.