Prosecutors were set on Wednesday to present their demand for the punishment of Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong in the last session of his appellate trial.
The 49-year-old scion of South Korea's largest conglomerate received a five-year jail term on Aug. 25 on the conviction of five charges including bribery, embezzlement and hiding assets overseas.
He was found guilty of providing 8.82 billion won ($8.19 million) in bribes to Choi Soon-sil, a longtime friend and confidante of former President Park Geun-hye.
Four former top Samsung executives -- Choi Gee-sung, former head of Samsung's now-disbanded control tower Future Strategy Office; his former deputy Chang Choong-ki; Park Sang-jin, a former president of Samsung Electronics; and another former President Hwang Sung soo -- were also convicted of similar charges and sentenced to four years in prison or suspended terms. They have all appealed the rulings.
This photo, taken on Dec. 22, 2017, shows Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, detained over bribery charges in connection with a scandal involving former President Park Geun-hye, walking toward the courthouse to attend his appeal in southern Seoul. (Yonhap)
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