An elder brother of President Lee Myung-bak appealed his bribery conviction Friday, court officials said, rendering himself ineligible for a special pardon.

Lee Sang-deuk, 78, submitted a petition of appeal to the Seoul Central District Court after he received a two-year jail term and was ordered to pay a fine of 750 million won ($654,165) Thursday, officials said.

Lee, a former six-term lawmaker who was considered to be one of the most powerful figures under the Lee presidency, was found guilty of receiving kickbacks worth 750 million won from a local company and two troubled savings banks.

All of the attention has been focused on whether the elder brother would appeal his prison sentence to higher courts, as aides to outgoing President Lee previously talked of possibly issuing a special pardon on Lunar New Year’s Day. (Yonhap News)

The proposed measure sparked a strong criticism that the pardon would be an attempt to get close confidants, including the elder Lee, out of jail.

Those whose sentences are finalized can only be eligible for the special pardon that is issued by the president to commemorate major holidays. (Yonhap News)