South Korean court sentences Lee Jae-yong over role in scandal that led to impeachment of former president Park Guen-hye
The billionaire, South Korea’s third-richest man and heir to the sprawling Samsung empire, had been accused of making large donations to foundations run by a close friend and confidante of the deposed South Korean president, Park Geun-hye, in return for political favours.
Lee’s lawyers said they would appeal. “As a lawyer I cannot possibly agree with the juridical decisions and acknowledged facts involved in the verdict,” the Samsung attorney Song Woo-cheo said outside the court.“We will appeal against the decision and I am sure that in the appellate trial all the charges will be dismissed.”They included Lee’s father, Lee Kun-hee, who was convicted of tax evasion in 2009 and had a three-year sentence suspended, with judges citing his contribution to South Korea’s economic success and his “patriotism through business enterprise from job creation”. He was pardoned four months after the final ruling.
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