SOUTH KOREAN CORRUPTION SCANDAL
US chip maker Qualcomm sniffs for plot in watchdog’s fine
The company highlights that arrested Samsung executive Jay Y Lee signed off on its record $898m fine for violating antitrust laws
San Francisco — The corruption scandal rocking South Korea has given Qualcomm another way to challenge a big antitrust fine threatening its most profitable business. Jay Y Lee, heir to the top job at Samsung Group, was arrested last week on allegations that he was involved in paying billions of won to a friend of South Korean President Park Geun-hye, in exchange for government support of his succession. Prosecutors are also investigating Samsung’s influence on the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) and have questioned Kim Hak-hyun, who until January was vice-chairman of the antitrust watchdog. Qualcomm highlighted that Kim had also signed off on a record 1.03-trillion won ($898m) fine against the US chip maker in December for violating antitrust laws. Samsung Electronics, a major customer of Qualcomm, stands to benefit greatly from the decision by cutting the fees it pays the US company. "The incorrect decision is the product of an unfair process that we believe was heavily influenc...
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