SEOUL, 25 August (BelTA - Yonhap) - A Seoul court sentenced Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong to five years in prison Friday, finding him guilty of bribery, embezzlement and other charges in a massive corruption scandal that led to the ouster of former President Park Geun-hye.
The Seoul Central District Court handed down the verdict, convicting Lee of involvement in Samsung's provision of 7.2 billion won (US$6.38 million) in bribes for the equestrian training of the daughter of Park's longtime friend and confidante Choi Soon-sil.
Prosecutors had demanded a 12-year jail term for Lee on charges of offering or pledging 43.3 billion won of bribes to win the government's blessing for a merger of two Samsung units under terms designed to increase his control over the entire Samsung empire so as to cement a power transfer from his ailing father Lee Kun-hee.
Lee has denied all charges against him and is expected to appeal the decision.
Four other former top Samsung executives were also convicted.
Friday's verdict is closely linked to ousted former President Park because Lee's conviction of bribery charges means that Park can also be found guilty. She was arrested in late March on a string of charges, including bribe-taking.
