Samsung Boss Denies Bribery Charges Against Him During First Court Hearing

The de factor leader of Samsung Group just denied the bribery allegations against him last Friday. This was his first court hearing following his involvement in the corruption scandal that impeached Korea's former president Park Geun-hye.

It can be recalled that Korea suffered political turmoil when a crisis in the government was exposed which involved the official who holds the top post in the country. Park Geun-hey along with some others as well as the Samsung de factor leader were all charged as suspects. And now, each of them is being tried and questioned before the court.

The vice chairman of Samsung Electronics Corporation, Lee Jae-yong appeared at the Seoul Central District Court for the hearing. He was accompanied by his colleagues and four senior executives from the said company as per BBC News.

Lee's involvement has been apparent when he allegedly pledged to give Choi Soon-sil, a friend of Park 43.3 billion won in exchanged for the support and help he could gain from securing group control through the merger of two units. And out of this supposed transaction, it has been reported that 20.4 billion won went to two foundations controlled by Choi. These three have been accused of bribery as Park was indicted as an accomplice.

Apart from being a suspected accomplice, Park allegedly worked together with Choi in order to persuade dozens of local companies and conglomerates to donate 77.4 billion won to the said foundations and Samsung was one of the said companies as per Reuters.

However, Lee's camp released statements telling that it was actually done out of support and assistance as the president requested these groups to help in the promotion of cultural prosperity and sports development. This according to them did not involve any sort of bribery or getting favors in return.

The legal representative of Lee also added that Samsung actually is working on business restructuring which is one of its corporate management activities. Therefore, the company is seeking ways to prove that no bribery has been made only that all the allegations are taken out of context.