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Special prosecutors to question Samsung heir over bribery charges on Wednesday

February 21, 2017

SEOUL, Feb. 21 (Yonhap) — Special prosecutors on Tuesday said they will question Lee Jae-yong, the de facto leader of Samsung Group, again this week over bribery allegations related to a corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her friend.

The investigation team, led by Independent Counsel Park Young-soo, will quiz Lee, the vice chairman of Samsung Electronics Co., on Wednesday afternoon for the third time since he was arrested Friday.

Lee has faced allegations that he gave or promised some 43 billion won (US$36.3 million) worth of bribes to the president’s jailed friend Choi Soon-sil in return for the government’s backing of a merger of two Samsung affiliates in 2015.

The merger was seen as critical for the smooth management succession of the group from ailing Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee to his only son Jae-yong.

Lee was said to have denied all charges leveled against him earlier, adding that he made the contributions due to pressure from the president.

The special prosecutors plan to indict him on bribery and other charges by the end of its initial 70-day investigation period next Tuesday.

This photo, taken on Feb. 20, 2017, shows Lee Jae-yong, the vice chairman of Samsung Electronics Co., leaving the special prosecutors’ office in southern Seoul after being questioned over bribery allegations.