South Korean court approves arrest of Samsung heir
February 16, 2017
Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-Yong has been under investigation for bribery and embezzlement. The scandal already caused the impeachment of President Park-Geun-hye.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/C. Jae-gu
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A South Korean court approved an arrest warrant for the heir to Samsung Electronics after questioning him and another company executive in connection with a massive corruption scandal that has also rocked South Korea's government. Lee has been held in a detention center since the interrogation that took place earlier in the day.
After a day of closed-door questioning of the suspects, a Seoul Central District Court spokesperson said "it is acknowledged that it is necessary to arrest (Lee Jae-Yong) in light of a newly added criminal charge and new evidence." The announcement reverses a court's decision from last month that blocked a previous attempt to arrest Lee due to insignificant evidence.
The special prosecutor's office had sought a second arrest warrant for Samsung Electronics President Park Sang-jin, who is also the head of the Korean Equestrian Federation. However, the court declined to issue it.
Prosecutors accuse the 48-year-old Lee of offering bribes of $36 million (33.9 million Euros) to South Korean President Park Geun-hye and her confidante Choi Soon-sil in order to secure government support for a company merger.
Despite the impeachment of President Park, the political crisis in S. Korea is far from over. While the protesters continue to demand Park's resignation, the scandal has spilled over into the highest levels of business.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/L. Jin-man
Extortion and manipulation
On Monday, a Danish court extended the detention of Chung Yoo-ra, the daughter of Choi Soon-sil, the woman at the centre of a corruption scandal that led to the impeachment of Park Geun-hye, South Korea's president. Choi is accused of influencing government policy and getting rich through extortion and manipulation.
Image: Reuters/K. Hong-Ji
South Korea's 'Rasputin'
Choi is in custody on charges of meddling in state affairs without holding a government position and using her connections with the president to extort vast sums of money from many of South Korea's best-known companies. Beyond the legal charges, she is being blamed for both effectively bringing down the government of President Park and leaving her reputation and political legacy in tatters.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/Chung Sung-Jun
Defiance
Last month, Park did not turn up to testify in a court case which will decide her future. The president was impeached over a multifaceted corruption scandal in December.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Yonhap
Fall from grace
After her impeachment, Park Geun-hye is regarded both as a perpetrator and a victim. Her future is uncertain as the country struggles to recover from a political scandal.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Jeon Heon-Kyun
Calls for early elections
Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets since the start of the corruption scandal, calling on President Park to step down. South Korea's Constitutional Court is deciding whether to formally unseat Park or restore her power. If she is forced out, a new election would be held within two months to choose her successor.
Image: Reuters/K. Hong-Ji
Scandal reaches top of the 'chaebols'
South Korea's corruption scandal has spilled over into the highest levels of business. The vice-chairman of Samsung, Lee Jae-yong, was questioned last month by investigators who are seeking evidence that he paid bribes to Choi Soon-sil. Given the economic and political importance of Samsung in South Korea, if Lee is indicted, it could be on the same level of President Park's impeachment.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Yeon-Je
The split
In December, a group of lawmakers from South Korea's ruling Saenuri Party abandoned Park to form a new party, tentatively named the New Conservative Party for Reform (NCPR). The party infighting is another blow to Park.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/EPA/Yonhap/YNA
Ban drops out of presidential race
Former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has declared that he won't run for South Korea's presidency. He had been expected to seek the position after a corruption scandal saw President Park impeached. The newly-formed NCPR was hoping that Ban would join their ranks.
