Samsung heir sentenced to five years in jail on corruption charges

Samsung heir sentenced to five years in jail on corruption charges
The heir to the Samsung empire has been sentenced to five years in jail after being convicted of offering bribes to South Korea's former president. Lee Jae-yong was convicted of bribery in a scandal that also saw the impeachment of South Korea's former president.

Lee Jae-yong was also found guilty of three cases of embezzlement, hiding assets overseas, concealing profits from criminal acts and perjury.

The court in Seoul found Lee gave donations worth $36m to non-profit foundations operated by Choi Soon-sil, a friend of South Korea's former President Park Geun-hye, in return for political favours.

Prosecutors said the donations were made to Ms Park's confidante to win government support for a big restructuring of Samsung that would strengthen Lee's control over Samsung Electronics.

Samsung has not denied transferring funds.

But Lee, vice-chairman at Samsung Electronics and the Samsung founder's grandson, had said he was unaware of the donations, which were overseen by other executives.