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Samsung heir walks free after court suspends jail term
http://www.dw.com/en/samsung-heir-walks-free-after-court-suspends-jail-term/a-42452589Samsung heir walks free after court suspends jail term
05.02.2018
A South Korean court on Monday suspended a prison sentence for Samsung Group heir Lee Jae-yong, effectively allowing him to walk free after serving a year in custody. The court cut his five-year prison term in half and suspended part of the sentence for bribery and embezzlement charges, thereby cutting his jail time to time-served.
In 2016, Lee was convicted of bribing disgraced President Park Geun-hye for support of a merger that would strengthen his control of Samsung Electronics. The technology giant allegedly sponsored the equestrian career of the daughter of Park's longtime confidant Choi Soon-sil.
However, Judge Cheong Hyung-sik on Monday said Lee's involvement in Samsung's financial support for Choi was a "passive compliance to political power." "Park Geun-hye and Choi Soon-sil should be seen as the main players in this scandal," said the ruling.
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According to media reports, Lee could still return to lead Samsung Group after his father was left bedridden after suffering a heart attack in 2014. However, the heir apparent may still have to deal with the stigma of serving jail time on corruption charges involving the president.
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