The Seoul Central District Court found that Lee Jae-yong bribed former South Korean President park geun-hye to succeed Samsung. In addition, the court also found that Lee Jae-yong participated in Samsung's bribery of 7.2 billion won, or about 4 million yuan, to Cui Shunshi, a close confidant of park geun-hye, to fund the equestrian training of Cui Shunshi's daughter.
In addition to accepting bribes, the court also found Lee Jae-yong guilty of corruption, hiding assets overseas, perjury and other crimes.
In addition, four other former executives of Samsung Group were also sentenced. Among them, Cui Zhicheng, former director of the future strategy room of Samsung Electronics, known as Lee Jae-yong's "mentor", was sentenced to four years' imprisonment. Zhang Zhongji, former deputy director of the Future Strategy Office, was also sentenced to four years in prison. Park Shangzhen, former president of Samsung Electronics, was sentenced to 3 years in prison and suspended for 5 years. Huang, a former Samsung electronics expert, was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison and suspended for 4 years.
Lee Jae-yong's lawyer said he would appeal.
After the verdict was pronounced in the first instance, Lee Jae-yong said that the verdict was unacceptable and would appeal. A lawyer from Lee Jae-yong Lawyers Group also told the media that he believed the verdict would be overturned.
South Korea has a system of three trials and final adjudication. If both parties are dissatisfied with the verdict, they can appeal the case to the Supreme Court of Korea.
Lee Jae-yong is regarded as the core figure of insider trading between former South Korean President park geun-hye and Samsung. Since the scandal of "cronies intervening in politics" broke out in June 5438+October last year, the inextricable links between Lee Jae-yong and park geun-hye, as well as park geun-hye's cronies Cui Shunshi, have been gradually exposed. In February this year, the Central District Court of Seoul formally issued an arrest warrant against Lee Jae-yong. Prosecutors had previously tried to sentence Lee Jae-yong to 65,438+2 years in prison.
how did Lee Jae-yong get involved in the "nepotism" incident?
Lee Jae-yong, 48, is the only son of Lee Kun-hee, president of Samsung Electronics. He has been the vice president of Samsung Electronics, and is called "Prince of Samsung" by the outside world. As the core figure of insider trading between former South Korean President park geun-hye and Samsung, the special inspection team believes that the park geun-hye government strongly supports the merger of Samsung products and First Wool. In return, Samsung provided 43 billion won, about 25,654.38 billion yuan, to Cui Shunshi, the protagonist of the "nepotism" incident, and Lee Jae-yong was suspected of being deeply involved in this matter. < P > In fact, during the 79 years since the founding of Samsung, its head has been investigated many times, but was arrested by the prosecution. The scale of bribery of 43 billion won accused by the South Korean special inspection team is also the highest in similar cases in South Korea.
what investigations have the special inspection team conducted in Lee Jae-yong before? How did Lee Jae-yong get involved in the South Korean "presidential cronies meddling in politics" incident?
The special inspection team accused Lee Jae-yong of taking bribes
Previously, in the case of the merger of Samsung Products and First Wool in 215, Lee Jae-yong was accused of participating in it, providing funds to two foundations and companies controlled by Cui Shunshi in exchange for the National Annuity Management Corporation under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and made a decision in favor of the smooth merger of Samsung at that time. At that time, the merger was passed under the opposition of some shareholders, which gave Lee Jae-yong the actual control of Samsung Group.
In addition, in 215, in the name of training equestrian athletes, Samsung Group provided 3.5 billion won, or about 2 million yuan, to a German local legal person controlled by Cui Shunshi. The price of famous horses purchased in the name of Samsung Electronics is also as high as 4.3 billion won. These funds have been confirmed to be used by Cui Shunshi's daughter Zheng.
The special inspection team accused Lee Jae-yong of perjury.
In addition, the so-called perjury of Lee Jae-yong by the Special Inspection Team actually refers to the statement made by Lee Jae-yong at the relevant hearing in February 216. At that time, Lee Jae-yong, as a witness, said at the pro-government event hearing held by the South Korean National Assembly that Samsung had never enjoyed preferential treatment at the expense of donation or funding. The special inspection team believed that Samsung Group paid bribes to the designated institutions at the request of park geun-hye, but Lee Jae-yong denied this at the hearing, so it was suspected of perjury.
The special inspection team increased the charges against Lee Jae-yong
After the application to the court to arrest Lee Jae-yong was rejected in June 5438+October this year, the special inspection team continued to push forward the investigation, summoned Samsung executives, and searched the Finance Committee and the Fair Trade Commission for evidence. In February this year, it increased the charges against Lee Jae-yong, saying that he was suspected of hiding assets.