Independent counsel seeking second arrest warrant for Samsung heir apparent

The independent counsel team dedicated to South Korea's massive corruption case, filed
for a second arrest warrant for Samsung heir apparent with additional charges.
Our Hwang Hojun gets us up to speed with the developments.
Diverting assets overseas and concealing gains from a criminal act.
These are the two additional charges the independent counsel team included when it filed for a
second arrest warrant for Samsung heir apparent Lee Jae-yong.
That's on top of the original charges of bribery, embezzlement and perjury the team filed against
Lee with its first request for an arrest warrant, which was rejected last month.
The charges stem from Samsung Group's alleged transfer of about 7 million U.S. dollars to
the foundation Core Sports, located in Germany and owned by Choi Soon-sil, the jailed confidante
of the Korean president -- allegedly without reporting the transaction.
The current law requires that reports be filed for single overseas transactions of 20-thousand
dollars and transactions of 50-thousand dollars per year.
The Korean tech giant also funneled nearly 38 million dollars... to entities controlled
by Choi.
The independent counsel believes the money was given in exchange for support of a 2015
merger of two Samsung affiliates, Samsung C&T and Cheil industries, that was deemed
critical to finalizing Lee's succession to the top of the country's biggest business
group.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson on Wednesday refuted speculation that the counsel is targeting
Samsung,... instead of investigating the corruption scandal as a whole.
"This investigation is about civilians, including Choi Soon-sil, meddling in state affairs.
There are allegations that Choi used her personal ties to President Park... or possibly even
colluded with the president... to receive money and valuables from Samsung.
That's why we're investigating the conglomerate.
We're not targeting the conglomerate."
The team said Tuesday that it would be impossible to investigate the 52 other conglomerates
that allegedly gave money to Choi because of a lack of time.
The counsel has a mandate that expires at the end of the month, with the option of a
one-time, 30-day extension.
"The court will review the independent counsel team's request for an arrest warrant for Lee
Jae-yong on Thursday morning.
The decision is expected to come out that night or early the next day.
Hwang Hojun, Arirang News."

Independent counsel seeking second arrest warrant for Samsung heir apparent

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