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Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong walks into a courtroom for his final hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap |
By Jung Min-ho
Prosecutors are seeking 12 years in prison for Lee Jae-yong, the de facto head of the Samsung Group, on charges of giving bribes to former President Park Geun-hye and her friend Choi Soon-sil.
Special counsel Park Young-soo made the request Monday during Lee's final hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, saying the prosecution had provided ample evidence that the Samsung Electronics vice chairman gave the two 43.3 billion won ($38.5 million) to ensure his control of the business empire.
Considering other charges, including embezzlement and perjury, the special prosecutor said Lee deserves heavy punishment.
The special prosecutor also asked presiding Judge Kim Jin-dong to sentence former Samsung executives ― Choi Gee-sung, Jang Choong-ki and Park Sang-jin ― to 10 years in prison for assisting Lee, and another executive, Hwang Sung-soo, to seven years.
"This is a typical example of the collusion between politics and business, which has inflicted serious damage to our constitutional values. The defendants keep lying and making lame excuses, but the evidence suggests otherwise," the special prosecutor said.
"I hope to see in court that justice is still alive."
The court's verdict is expected to be crucial for upcoming rulings on the former president who is charged with accepting the money with Choi.
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| Special prosecutor Park Young-soo speaks to reporters as he enters the court / Yonhap |
Lee was indicted in February for bribery after allegedly giving the money to Park and Choi in the guise of donations. In return, the special counsel insists, the former president pressured the National Pension Service (NPS), a key shareholder of two Samsung units ― Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries ― to vote for their merger in 2015, which was a critical move for Lee to tighten his grip on group management.
On charges of abusing his authority to smooth out the process, Moon Hyung-pyo, who was minister of health and welfare at that time, was already found guilty and given a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence.
Giving his final testimony, the teary-eyed Lee pleaded his innocence but said as a leader he is still responsible for failing the people's high expectations.
"I have not asked anything of the (former) president for my own benefit," Lee said. "I would never touch the people's retirement savings. This has been widely misunderstood. Unless it is resolved, I will not be able to represent Samsung as chief manager."
He appeared to be emotional, and tried to calm himself down by taking sips of water while giving five minutes of testimony.
"I wanted to become a businessman many people would admire. I have a lot of mixed feelings to be here before achieving that goal," he said. "I am sorry for disappointing everyone who supports Samsung."
The special prosecutor has claimed the defendants were not victims, but active players who were seeking advantages through the corrupt deals.
Lee's lawyers claimed he gave them the money because of Choi's threats and coercion, not for business favors.
They also claimed the former president didn't say anything about Samsung's corporate succession matters during her private meetings with Lee.
In addition, they said, he was not involved in the decision-making process about the merger, shifting the blame to top executives at the Future Strategy Office, the group's governing body which was disbanded in February over the scandal.
Many people showed great interest in the hearing of Lee, who is deemed to be one of the world's most influential businessmen. Some even stayed overnight outside the court for the 30 seats available for the public.
Some avid supporters of the former president staged a rally near the court and threw water bottles and cursed at the special prosecutor when he arrived.
Lee's trial began April 7. Since then, 53 hearings have been held and 59 witnesses have been summoned.
The court will deliver its verdict at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 25. Following the Supreme Court's recent decision to allow a live broadcast of important cases for the people's right to know, people may be able to watch it on live TV.
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