SOUTH KOREAN, Feb 17 – Samsung Group de facto leader Lee Jae-yong was arrested early on Friday over his alleged involvement in a corruption scandal centered around impeached President Park Geun-hye. The judge’s decision was announced at about 5:30 a.m. (20:30 GMT) on Friday, more than 10 hours after Lee had left the court.
Last month, the same court rejected a request from prosecutors to place Lee under arrest. Samsung is suspected of giving donations, estimated at around 17.5 million US dollars, to organizations operated by Park’s jailed confidante, Choi Soon-sil, in return for favors from the government and support for a controversial merger. Lee previously admitted supporting Chung Yoo-ra, Choi’s daughter and a professional equestrian, with money and a horse.
On Tuesday, the special prosecutor’s office had sought a warrant to arrest Lee and another executive, Samsung Electronics President Park Sang-jin, on bribery and other charges. However, the court rejected the request to arrest Park. Samsung Group said on Friday it will do its best to ensure that the truth is revealed in future court proceedings, after the arrest of the conglomerate’s third-generation leader.
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