The five fateful minutes that brought down a Samsung scion and a president
Seoul — South Korean prosecutors pursuing bribery charges against Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong zeroed in on a five-minute chat with the country’s president as the start of a relationship that put both behind bars. On Wednesday, the landmark trial of South Korea’s most powerful business figure focused on what transpired during a tête-à-tête in September 2014. Prosecutors allege Lee accepted then-president Park Geun-hye’s request to support equestrian training for the daughter of a close friend, anticipating it would help secure government support for business deals. But Lee’s lawyers said he couldn’t possibly have sought favours from Park during a quick conversation on the sidelines of a public event. Lee’s hearing — dubbed the "trial of the century" in South Korea — threatens to expose a murky web of ties between top government officials and the richest family in the country. On Wednesday, the billionaire stared quietly in front of him as his lawyers fought allegations that meetings wi...
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