S. Korea court rejects arrest warrant for Samsung heir

Friday, 20 January 2017 00:36 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

AFP: A South Korean court on Thursday refused to authorise the arrest of the heir to the Samsung business empire, in a setback to prosecutors probing a corruption scandal engulfing President Park Geun-Hye.

Officials on Monday sought the arrest of Lee Jae-Yong on charges of bribery, embezzlement and perjury, sending shock waves through the group, which is a major part of the South Korean economy and includes the world’s largest smartphone maker.

It is already reeling from the debacle over the recall of its flagship Galaxy Note 7 device and reports have suggested it could face sanctions from overseas authorities if Lee is punished.

Lee, who became Samsung’s de facto head after his father suffered a heart attack in 2014, is accused of bribing Choi Soon-Sil, Park’s secret confidante at the centre of the scandal, and receiving policy favours from Park in return.

But the court rejected the request on grounds of insufficient evidence, which could mar investigators’ plan to question Park - impeached by parliament last month - on charges of bribery.

A spokesman for the prosecution team described the decision as “very regrettable” but said they will “carry on with our probe without wavering”.

Opposition politicians and analysts questioned the decision.

Seoul mayor Park Won-Soon, who is expected to stand for president later this year, accused the court of basing its decision on the potential economic ramifications rather than justice.

“A fair ruling is a requirement for economic improvement,” he said on Facebook. “A country that tolerates corruption cannot do well economically.”

Samsung is South Korea’s largest business group and its revenue is equivalent to about a fifth of the country’s GDP.