Explainer | Explained: why Samsung heir’s corruption case poses a new test for embattled South Korean firm
- Samsung Group heir Lee Jae-yong was freed from jail in February after serving one year for his involvement in a corruption case – but he may be sent back behind bars if the Supreme Court rules against him
- This comes as the company reels from export curbs by Japan and ongoing economic uncertainty worsened by the US-China trade war
Lee, now 51, was found guilty of bribing Choi, embezzlement and other crimes and sentenced to five years in jail, which was later reduced. Park was impeached and jailed for 25 years, with Choi getting 20 years. The two friends were found guilty of forcing local conglomerates such as Samsung to donate millions of dollars to Choi’s two dubious foundations, and for receiving further bribes from Samsung. Both were also fined 20 billion won (US$16.4 million).
Prosecutors and the three accused brought the case to the Supreme Court, which will determine whether the lower courts reached a correct decision.
The court could either stick with the reduced sentence given to Lee – which saw him freed in February 2018 after serving 353 days behind bars – or send the case to the appeal court for a retrial. Non-governmental organisations at the time had protested against what they said was a biased court decision favouring Lee.
Why is this case significant?
