Independent counsel questions Samsung chief again over bribery allegations

The special prosecutorial team investigating the massive corruption scandal gripping Korea...
summoned Samsung Electronics Vice Chair Lee Jae-yong for the second time.
Our Hwang Hojun has the updates from the independent counsel office.
Swarms of reporters and protesters packed the entrance to the building where the team's
office is located,... all trying to get a glimpse... or at least shout things... at
the so-called prince of Samsung... who was protected by an ample police presence.
Lee Jae-yong arrived on Monday morning, but answered no questions,... offering only a
single comment before taking the elevator.
"I will again faithfully tell the truth during the special prosecutors' interrogation today."
In all, three high-level Samsung executives are being questioned as suspects this evening,
including Vice Chairman Lee... as well as Park Sang-jin and Hwang Sung-soo.
In the team's afternoon briefing, the independent counsel spokesperson, Lee Kyu-chul, was unusually
cautious on giving details about the vice chairman's interrogation.
However, he did confirm that the team will review whether to seek arrest warrants once
all the questioning is done.
"We will examine everything regarding the suspects, as if we're back at square one,
and then decide whether to arrest them or not."
Samsung is alleged to have given huge donations to entities controlled by President Park's
now-jailed confidant Choi Soon-sil, in return for favors, such as political support for
the controversial merger of two Samsung units, Samsung C&T and Cheil Worldwide,... a move
seen to have cemented Lee Jae-yong's succession as head of the group.
Lee was first questioned a month ago... when the team grilled him for 22 hours straight.
The prosecutors then requested a warrant for his arrest on charges of bribery, embezzlement,
and perjury, but that was rejected.
And according to observers, that's exactly why the independent counsel team is being
extra cautious, because if a second warrant request is turned down, the probe would be
dealt a serious blow... with only about two weeks to go until the team's initial mandate
expires at the end of this month.
Hwang Hojun, Arirang News.

Independent counsel questions Samsung chief again over bribery allegations

Latest Posts