The date is set. <br />The corruption trial of former president Lee Myung-bak will begin in Seoul early next month.<br /> A court official said Thursday that the Seoul Central District Court will hold the first pretrial hearing on May third. <br />The former president is not required by law to attend the session.<br />During the pre-trial hearing, Lee's legal team will go head-to-head with prosecutors as they decide on which documents can be used as evidence when the main trial starts.<br /> The former leader, who was indicted earlier this month, faces 16 charges, including bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power.<br />He denies most of the charges. <br />
