South Korean prosecutors seek 12-year sentence for Samsung scion Lee Jae-yong
Seoul — South Korean prosecutors on Monday demanded the heir to the Samsung empire be jailed for 12 years over his role in the corruption scandal that brought down the country’s last president. At the final hearing in the trial of Lee Jae-yong, the vice-chairman of Samsung Electronics, prosecutors called him the "ultimate beneficiary" of crimes committed in the scandal, which culminated in the impeachment and dismissal of president Park Geun-hye. Lee and four other executives are accused of bribing Park’s powerful confidante with millions of dollars to win presidential favours and ease a controversial 2015 merger deal. "The defendants were closely tied to power and sought personal gains," the prosecutors said. They sought a 12-year sentence for Lee, and terms ranging from seven to 10 years for three of his co-accused. Lee, 49, has effectively been at helm of the vast Samsung group, the world’s biggest smartphone maker and a sprawling business empire, since his father suffered a hear...
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