SEOUL: Lee Jae-yong, the de facto leader of Samsung Group, South Korea's largest conglomerate, appeared in court on Monday for a hearing to decide whether he will be arrested again amid allegations of his involvement in a merger and accounting fraud. Lee, also the vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, showed up at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, reports Yonhap News Agency.
The hearing is likely to last at least several hours, as many expect the court's decision to come out late Monday night or early Tuesday morning. He is under probe in connection with the controversial merger of two Samsung affiliates in 2015, an apparent key process in his takeover of control of the group from his ailing father, Lee Kun-hee.
Last week, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office sought an arrest warrant for the Samsung scion, arguing he should be put back in jail, given the seriousness of his alleged wrongdoings and the possibility of destroying relevant evidence.
It is a prelude to a widely expected indictment against Lee. Prosecutors also requested arrest warrants for two former Samsung executives, Choi Gee-sung and Kim Jong-joong, who had led the group's now-disbanded control tower, the Future Strategy Office. The three are accused of engaging in unfair trading, stock price manipulation and violation of laws on external audits. Kim faces an additional charge of making a false testimony in court. (IANS)
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