Seoul court begins to deliberate Samsung chief’s arrest
SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of — A South Korean court began deliberating on Thursday whether to issue an arrest warrant for a Samsung heir in connection to a massive corruption scandal that led to the impeachment of the country’s president.
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong walked into the Seoul Central District Court without speaking to the pack of reporters.
Lee and other Samsung top executives have been questioned over the past several weeks by prosecutors investigating the influence-peddling scandal that engulfed President Park Geun-hye. Park, whose power was suspended in December by the parliament, is waiting for a decision by the country’s constitutional Court on whether to permanently remove her from the presidential seat.
The prosecutors are seeking permission for the second time to arrest the 48-year-old billionaire heir to Samsung. They accuse him of giving bribes worth $36 million to President Park and her long-time friend in order to win government favours for a smooth company leadership transition.