By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Former Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee, 66, indicted on charges of tax evasion and breach of trust, will make his first appearance in a court room in 13 years, Thursday.
The former chairman last appeared in a court room back in 1995 when he was accused of illegally funding former President Roh Tae-woo.
He will attend the first hearing at the Seoul Central District Court along with eight other indicted ex-Samsung executives including former Vice Chairman Lee Hak-soo, 61, who also led the group's now-defunct Strategic Planning Office and former president Kim In-joo, 49.
Centering on illegal control transfer of the conglomerate to Lee's only son, Jae-yong, by arranging the 1995 sale of convertible bonds of Samsung Everland, the group's de facto holding company, at a giveaway price to him five hearings are scheduled unless additional ones are required.
The first ruling will be made by mid July.Chairman Lee was indicted for evading taxes on billions of dollars that he hid in accounts under the name of his aides and breach of trust for incurring losses at Samsung by helping his son gain control of group units.
Special prosecutor Cho Joon-woong, started looking into allegations of corruption at the nation's No. 1 conglomerate in January after former Samsung attorney Kim Yong-chul claimed that the group amassed a huge amount of it under the names of its former and current executives and used some of the money to bribe politicians, prosecutors and officials.
The special probe was over on April 23 after indicting a total of 9 Samsung officials including Lee. Despite months of investigation, the prosecutor found no evidence to support the bribery allegation.