South Korea prosecutors seek arrest of Samsung chief
Prosecutors in South Korea are seeking an arrest warrant for the de facto head of the country’s biggest business firm, Samsung Group, as part of investigations into a scandal surrounding impeached President Park Geun-hye.
The special prosecutor’s office sought the warrant for the arrest of Samsung’s Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, known professionally as Jay Y. Lee, on Monday. A court has to approve the warrant, according to an official at the Seoul central district court, who said a hearing will likely be held on Wednesday.
The office also said on Monday that Lee had paid bribes totaling 43 billion won (36.42 million dollars) to Choi Soon-sil, a friend of President Park’s and the woman at the center of the scandal.
Prosecutors had questioned Lee for 22 straight hours last week.
President Park faces accusations that she colluded with Choi to pressure big businesses, including Samsung, to “donate” money to non-profit foundations controlled by Choi.
Park has been impeached by the parliament, and South Korea’s Constitutional Court is debating whether to confirm the parliamentary impeachment vote. Choi is facing a separate trial on charges of abuse of power and attempted fraud.
In a Monday court session, she admitted that she had had access to a former presidential aide’s email, which had presidential documents, but that she only looked at Park’s speeches for “emotional expression.”
Choi described Park as “a person without ulterior motives,” who “does not allow people to take private interest or take private interest herself.”
She denied any wrongdoing.
Park has also dismissed the allegations against her, though she has admitted to carelessness in her relationship with Choi.
If Park’s impeachment vote is upheld by the Constitutional Court, a presidential election would be held in two months, with former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expected to be a candidate.
President Yoon Suk Yeol to be removed from office
S. Korean opposition leader urges swift removal of impeached president
South Korean MPs vote to impeach president over martial law
‘All wars have rules. All of those rules have been broken’ by Israel
VIDEO | Report flags India’s violation of rights of Rohingya detainees
Turkey's foreign minister meets Syria's de facto leader in Damascus
'Next to impossible' to rescue patients from Gaza's Kamal Adwan Hospital: Director
VIDEO | Vietnam current prosperity
Report blames gasoil exports for shortage at Iranian power plants
VIDEO | Hind Rajab Foundation names Israeli war criminals vacationing after Gaza genocide
VIDEO | Australians rally for Gaza ahead of Christmas festivities
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
