By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee is likely to be indicted without physical detention on charges of breach of trust for overlooking the group's use of illicit methods to transfer group control to his only son, Jae-yong, according to investigators.
Emerging from 11 hours of investigation, Lee told reporters Saturday that he will partially take responsibility for the group's illegalities, without specifying for which allegations he will accept responsibility.
When he presented himself on Friday at the prosecutor's office, Lee, 66, said he did nothing wrong. His attitude had changed however after the investigation as he acknowledged partial responsibility for key allegations for the first time.
The chairman was interrogated over three key allegations ― the group's illicit wealth transfer to his son, the creation of slush funds and bribery.
``All of this (fuss) is my fault and I would take responsibility,'' he said. However, asked whether he admits his responsibility for the key allegations, Lee said, ``On a case by case basis ― not 100 percent.''
When asked whether he was involved in the wealth transfer case, he said, ``I did not instruct it.'' However, Lee told investigators that he was aware of the wealth transfer plot as the group's strategic planning office reported it to him, according to an investigator. Lee's son took over the group's managerial control after buying convertible bonds of Everland, Samsung's de facto holding company, at below-market price. Heads of the planning office said in earlier questioning that they plotted the deals without the chairman's knowledge.
With the investigation in its final stage, the investigation team is considering charging him for breach of trust and indicting him without physical detention. Former and incumbent Everland heads were already found guilty for causing loss to the company through the suspicious deal.
The chairman also reportedly admitted that he was the owner of the Samsung Life Insurance shares and some 700 Samsung Securities stock accounts registered under the group executives' names. But he claimed the money is not slush funds but inherited from his late father and group founder Lee Byung-chul.
If the counsel fails to find evidence to reverse the claims, Lee is likely to avoid charges such as embezzlement and tax evasion.
Assistant prosecutor Yoon Jeong-seok of the team said the counsel would select whom to arrest or indict soon. ``We are unlikely to summon Lee again,'' Yoon said, indicating they have almost finished investigating the chairman.