Samsung boss says sorry to S. Koreans
Print Edition
SPECIAL South Korean prosecutors questioned the head of top conglomerate Samsung Group on suspicion of bribery yesterday in an influence-peddling scandal that led to President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment.
Park remains in office but has been stripped of her powers while the Constitutional Court decides whether to uphold the December impeachment and make her the first democratically elected leader to be forced from office.
Park has denied wrongdoing.
“I am very sorry to the South Korean people for not showing a better side,” Samsung Group leader Lee Jae-yong told reporters as he arrived at the prosecution office.
Investigators would now decide whether to seek an arrest warrant against Lee, 48, special prosecution spokesman Lee Kyu-chul told reporters.
Parliament impeached Park over allegations she allowed a friend, Choi Soon-sil, to exert inappropriate influence over state affairs.
Choi is accused of colluding with Park to pressure big businesses, including the Samsung Group, to contribute to non-profit foundations backing the president’s initiatives. Choi, in detention and on trial on charges of abuse of power and attempted fraud, has denied wrongdoing.
Prosecutors are investigating whether Samsung gave 30 billion won (US$25.3 million) to a business and foundations backed by Choi in exchange for the national pension fund’s support for a 2015 merger of Samsung C&T Corp and Cheil Industries Inc.
Lee denies trying to curry favor to secure the merger.
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