Former President Lee Myung-bak was placed behind bars Monday, after the Supreme Court upheld his conviction for bribery and embezzlement and revoked his bail.

The 78-year-old, who led the country from 2008 to 2013, faces 16 more years in jail.

Lee left his residence in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul, at around 1:45 p.m., as supporters and longtime aides, including former Rep. Lee Jae-oh, gathered to bid him farewell.

“They can arrest me, but they can’t confine the truth” his lawyer quoted him as saying to his aides.

He was admitted to the Seoul Dongbu Detention Center in Songpa-gu, southern Seoul, at 2:40 p.m. He was likely to stay at the same solitary cell where he stayed for a year until his release on bail in February.

The 13.07-square-meter cell is equipped with a television, a table, a cabinet, a mirror, a foldable mattress, a sink, a fan and a bathroom.

It is a little bigger than the 10.08-square-meter cell at the Seoul Detention Center that his successor -- former President Park Geun-hye -- occupies in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province.

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld an appeals court ruling sentencing him to 17 years in jail for embezzling 25.2 billion won ($22.22 million) from an auto parts company that he effectively owned and accepting bribes worth 9.4 billion won from companies including Samsung Electronics.

The top court also rejected Lee’s appeal against a lower court decision to cancel his bail. Lee’s remaining jail time is 16 years, as he has already spent a year in jail.

Considering his former presidential status, the detention center will designate a prison officer for Lee and will place him in a private cell for his remaining term. Other than that, he will be treated just like any other inmate, the Justice Ministry said.

The conviction stripped Lee of presidential privileges, including a lifetime monthly pension and free health care, office space, personal assistants and chauffeur services. His only remaining privilege is his personal security service, which he won’t need while detained.

By Ko Jun-tae (ko.juntae@heraldcorp.com)