Seoul, South Korea: The heir to the Samsung business empire Lee Jae-Yong was convicted Friday of all five charges at his trial in connection with the scandal that brought down president Park Geun-Hye.
Prosecutors had demanded a 12-year sentence, but Lee was jailed for five years.
Four other former top Samsung executives were also found guilty, with two given terms of up to four years and the other pair receiving suspended sentences.
Prosecutors argued Lee paid or promised to pay a total of 43.3 billion won ($38.4 million) in return for actions including government support for the scion's hereditary succession at the Samsung group.
It disregarded 12.4 billion won that was promised but not paid.
In his defence, Lee's lawyers said Samsung was compelled by Park to support the national equestrian team, which happened to include Choi's daughter, and to make the donations to support the country's cultural and sports development.
Embezzlement, Money Laundering And Transfers
The court ruled that the 7.3 billion won paid for the equestrian training was company money diverted by Lee, amounting to embezzlement.
Perjury Of Parliament
At a parliamentary hearing in December, Lee told lawmakers said he had not been informed of Samsung's bankrolling of the daughter's equestrian training, and that he was unaware of the Chois.
The statements constituted perjury, the court said.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prosecutors had demanded a 12-year sentence, but Lee was jailed for five years.
Four other former top Samsung executives were also found guilty, with two given terms of up to four years and the other pair receiving suspended sentences.
Prosecutors argued Lee paid or promised to pay a total of 43.3 billion won ($38.4 million) in return for actions including government support for the scion's hereditary succession at the Samsung group.
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It disregarded 12.4 billion won that was promised but not paid.
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In his defence, Lee's lawyers said Samsung was compelled by Park to support the national equestrian team, which happened to include Choi's daughter, and to make the donations to support the country's cultural and sports development.
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Embezzlement, Money Laundering And Transfers
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The court ruled that the 7.3 billion won paid for the equestrian training was company money diverted by Lee, amounting to embezzlement.
Advertisement
Perjury Of Parliament
At a parliamentary hearing in December, Lee told lawmakers said he had not been informed of Samsung's bankrolling of the daughter's equestrian training, and that he was unaware of the Chois.
The statements constituted perjury, the court said.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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