Samsung vice chair Lee found guilty of bribery

EPA / ANDREW GOMBERT

A South Korean court found Samsung Vice-Chairman and heir Jay Y. Lee guilty of bribery, embezzlement and perjury on Friday and he was sentenced to five years in prison. Lee was arrested in February on a string of charges connected to the corruption scandal that rocked South Korea last year and brought about the impeachment of now former President Park Geun-hye.

The Seoul Central District Court ruled Lee had paid bribes in order to secure support from the then-president for a merger between two Samsung subsidiaries. He was convicted of embezzling 6.4 billion won ($5.7 million) and providing false testimony during his trial as well. Prosecutors demanded a 12-year prison term for the Samsung heir, who denied all charges.

Baha Breaking News (BBN) / JC