SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – South Korean prosecutors recommended imprisoning the billionaire heir of the Samsung business empire for 12 years on Monday, urging a court to convict him of bribery and other crimes in a national corruption scandal.
The prosecutors’ recommendation ends a four-month-long trial into allegations against Samsung’s 49-year-old vice chairman, Lee Jae-yong. Lee was arrested earlier this year as the corruption scandal prompted months of massive public protests that culminated with the ouster of South Korea’s president.
In his closing remarks, special prosecutor Park Young Soo said Samsung’s alleged bribing of the president was typical of the corrupt and cozy ties between the South Korea’s government and big businesses.
Such dealings once helped fuel the country’s rapid industrialization but now increasingly are being scrutinized as illegal and unfair. Park accused Samsung officials of lying in their testimonies to protect Lee.
Lee was indicted in February on charges that including offering $38 million in bribes to four entities controlled by a friend of then-President Park Geun-hye. Prosecutors believed that the bribery was offered in exchange for government help with a merger that strengthened Lee’s control over Samsung at a crucial time for organizing a smooth leadership transition after his father fell ill. Prosecutors allege the money was paid to a company in Germany to bankroll equestrian training for the daughter of a friend of then-President Park Geun-hye.