A Seoul court on Wednesday denied bail for an elder brother of former President Lee Myung-bak, who was convicted of bribery charges.

A local court sentenced Lee Sang-deuk, 78, to two years in prison and fined him 750 million won ($654,165) in January for receiving kickbacks worth the same amount from a local company and two troubled savings banks from 2007 to 2011.

Citing his poor health, the former six-term lawmaker who was considered to be one of the most powerful figures of the Lee presidency, asked the court to grant him bail.

The Seoul High Court, however, dismissed his request.

In the same ruling, the court also denied bail for Rep. Chung Doo-un of the ruling Saenuri Party.

The former close aide to ex-President Lee was sentenced to one year behind bars for taking kickbacks from troubled savings banks. (Yonhap News)