Lee's lawyer pledges to appeal; rejects all charges against Samsung vice chief

Song Ho-chul, right, a lawyer representing Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, speaks at the Seoul Central District Court on Friday after Lee was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison for multiple corruption charges. Song said he will appeal the verdict. / Yonhap

By Chyung Eun-ju

A lawyer representing Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong said he will appeal the court’s ruling against his client.

Lee, 49, was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday on multiple corruption charges, including bribery and embezzlement.

“It is difficult to accept the decision of the court,” lawyer Song Ho-chul said after the ruling. “We will immediately appeal.

“We cannot accept the entire guilty verdict from the first trial. We will prove that he is not guilty in the appeal trial.”