Arrest warrant sought for Samsung Electronics board chairman in labor union sabotage probe

September 7, 2018

SEOUL, Sept. 7 (Yonhap) — Prosecutors on Friday requested a court warrant to arrest the chairman of Samsung Electronics Co.’s board of directors over his alleged role in a scheme to hamper labor union activities at its after-sales services unit.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said it filed for the writ against Lee Sang-hoon on charges of violating labor and trade union laws, its officials said.

Lee, 63, is accused of engaging in a scheme to sabotage labor union efforts by Samsung Electronics Service employees in 2013. Lee was the head of the tech firm’s management division when the labor union was being set up.

He underwent prosecution questioning on Thursday. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Prosecutors have questioned several other Samsung officials involved in the case, including a former vice president of Samsung Group’s now-disbanded decision-making body, the Future Strategy Office. Samsung is known for its “no labor union” policy.

Lee Sang-hoon, the chairman of the board of directors at Samsung Electronics Co., is seen in this photo taken on Sept. 6, 2018, as he arrived at the Seoul central prosecution office for questioning over the firm's alleged sabotaging of employee's labor union activities at its subsidiary. (Yonhap)

Lee Sang-hoon, the chairman of the board of directors at Samsung Electronics Co., is seen in this photo taken on Sept. 6, 2018, as he arrived at the Seoul central prosecution office for questioning over the firm’s alleged sabotaging of employee’s labor union activities at its subsidiary. (Yonhap)