South Korean court sentences Samsung heir to 5 years for bribery, other corruption

Samsung heir gets 5 years for corruption — (Image credit: Chung Sung-jun/AFP/Getty Images)

On Friday morning, a court in Seoul found Samsung's acting chairman and heir apparent Lee Jae-yong guilty of bribery, embezzlement, perjury, hiding money overseas, and other corruption-related charges and sentenced him to five years in prison. Lee, a 49-year-old billionaire, has maintained his innocence. Prosecutors said that Lee gave $38 million in bribes to foundations operated by Choi Soon-sil, a friend of since-impeached President Park Geun-hye, on the presumption that Park would support a merger that strengthened Lee's control over his family's lucrative business empire. Park and Choi are also on trial, separately. Prosecutors were seeking a 12-year sentence for Lee, who can still appeal the verdict.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.