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Samsung boss faces court over drugs
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The de-facto leader of South Korea鈥檚 sprawling Samsung group Lee Jae-yong went on trial yesterday on charges of illegally using the anaesthetic propofol, the latest legal travail to beset the multi-billionaire.
Lee 鈥 the vice-chairman of the world鈥檚 biggest smartphone maker Samsung Electronics and according to Forbes the world鈥檚 297th richest person 鈥 is accused of having repeatedly taken the anaesthetic at a plastic surgery clinic in Seoul in 2017 and 2018.
Propofol is normally a medical anaesthetic but is also sometimes used recreationally, and an overdose of the drug was given as the cause of pop star Michael Jackson鈥檚 death in 2009.
Usage is normally seen as a minor offence in the South and prosecutors originally proposed fining him 50 million won (US$42,000) under a summary indictment, a procedure where less serious cases do not go to court.
But the court overruled the prosecution and ordered a trial.
Wearing a dark grey business suit and a facemask, Lee remained tight-lipped as he entered the Seoul Central District Court, skipping questions from reporters.
Lee apologized to the court, Yonhap news agency reported.
鈥淚 apologize for causing such trouble and concern due to my personal matter,鈥 he told the judge.
鈥淎ll this has occurred due to my shortcomings, and although it was for medical purposes, I regret it deeply.鈥
Prosecutors demanded a larger fine of 70 million won, along with an asset seizure of 17 million won.
Samsung Electronics declined to comment.
The firm is the flagship subsidiary of the giant Samsung group, by far the largest of the family-controlled empires known as chaebols that dominate business in South Korea, the world鈥檚 12th largest economy.
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