Samsung leader Lee arrives for questioning by prosecutors (updated)

Itcenentec

12/01/2017 01:38

* Samsung chief arrives for questioning by prosecutors 
    * Samsung suspected of lobbying to pave way for a 2015 
merger 
    * Samsung leader apologizes to South Korean people 
 
 (Updates with comments from Lee, background) 
    By Se Young Lee and Ju-min Park 
    SEOUL, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Samsung Group  SAGR.UL  leader Jay 
Y. Lee arrived at the South Korean special prosecutor's office 
on Thursday for questioning over bribery suspicions as part of a 
widening influence-peddling scandal that may permanently unseat 
President Park Geun-hye.  
    The prosecution named Lee as a suspect on Wednesday and is 
investigating whether 30 billion won ($25.28 million) provided 
by Samsung to a business and foundations backed by Park's 
friend, Choi Soon-sil, were connected to a 2015 decision by the 
country's national pension fund to support a controversial 
merger of two group affiliates.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N1F123O     
    "I am very sorry to the South Korean people for not showing 
a better side," Lee told reporters after arriving at the office 
in a black Korean-made Ssangyong sedan, greeted by protesters 
holding signs calling for his arrest and accusing him of being 
an accomplice to President Park. 
    Wearing a dark suit, white shirt and dark red necktie, Lee 
bowed after making his brief remarks to a crowd of journalists. 
    Park could become South Korea's first democratically elected 
leader to leave office early after parliament voted in December 
to impeach her over the corruption scandal. The impeachment must 
be upheld or overturned by the Constitutional Court. 
    The scandal has triggered big weekly rallies calling for 
Park to step down. Park has denied any wrongdoing, but has 
apologised. 
    Choi, 60, who has known Park for four decades, is accused of 
colluding with Park to pressure big businesses, including 
Samsung Group, to contribute to non-profit foundations backing 
the president's initiatives. 
    Choi, in jail since late October, is currently on trial 
charged with abuse of power, attempted fraud and bribery. She 
has plead not guilty 
    Proving quid-pro-quo dealings between the Choi-linked 
organisations and Samsung are critical to prosecution efforts to 
bolster its case against the Korean president and show that she, 
or a surrogate such as Choi, collected bribes in exchange for 
favours, analysts said. 
    A special prosecution spokesman on Wednesday did not comment 
on whether Jay Y. Lee or other Samsung executives will be 
indicted but would not rule out the possibility of the 
prosecution seeking an arrest warrant against Lee.    
    The 48-year-old Lee took over as leader of the country's 
biggest conglomerate after his father, founding family patriarch 
Lee Kun-hee, was incapacitated by a May 2014 heart attack. 
 
 (Reporting by Se Young Lee and Ju-min Park; Editing by Michael 
Perry and Tony Munroe) 
 ((vincentsy.lee@thomsonreuters.com; +822 3704 5646; Reuters 
Messaging: vincentsy.lee.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net; follow 
me on Twitter @Rover829)) 
 
Keywords: SOUTHKOREA POLITICS/SAMSUNG GROUP (UPDATE 1, TV, P