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Samsung chief Lee arrested in corruption investigation

Friday, 17 Feb 2017 06:58:59

Samsung Jay Y Lee (C) was brought in again for questioning this week. (Reuters: Jung Yeon-je, file)

Samsung Group chief Jay Y Lee has been arrested over his alleged role in a corruption scandal that led parliament to impeach President Park Geun-hye, a South Korean court says.

Mr Lee, Samsung's 48-year-old vice-chairman, was reportedly taken into custody at the Seoul Detention Centre this week where he awaited the Seoul Central District Court's decision following a day-long closed-door hearing that ended on Thursday evening.

The same court rejected a request from prosecutors last month to arrest Mr Lee.

But on Tuesday, the special prosecutor's office had again requested a warrant to arrest Mr Lee on bribery and other charges again.

The prosecution said it had secured additional evidence and brought more charges against Mr Lee, the group's third-generation leader, in the latest warrant request.

Mr Lee's father, Samsung group patriarch Lee Kun-hee, was incapacitated by a 2014 heart attack.

"We acknowledge the cause and necessity of the arrest," a judge said in his ruling, citing additional allegations and evidence.

A spokeswoman for Samsung — the world's biggest maker of smartphones — said after the arrest that it would do its best to ensure that the truth is revealed in future court proceedings.

The group and Mr Lee have all previously denied any wrongdoing in the case.

The office has focused its investigations on Samsung's relationship with Ms Park, who was impeached in December and has been stripped of her powers while the Constitutional Court decides whether to uphold her impeachment.

Prosecutors accused Samsung of paying bribes totalling 43 billion won ($49 million) to organisations linked to Ms Park's friend, Choi Soon-sil, to secure the Government's backing for a merger of two Samsung units.

That funding includes Samsung's sponsorship of the equestrian career of Ms Choi's daughter, who is in detention in Denmark, having been on a South Korean wanted list.

Reuters

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