Secrets of Korea's Elite to Air as 'Trial of the Century' Begins
- Court required to give verdict on Jay Y. Lee by end of May
- Proving Lee paid for favors will be prosecutors’ big challenge
WikiLeaks Claims Samsung TVs Are Spying on You
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The trial of Samsung Electronics Co. vice chairman Jay Y. Lee began Thursday, as prosecutors try to prove the billionaire conspired to funnel millions of dollars to a confidante of President Park Geun-hye to help secure control of the world’s largest smartphone maker.
Lee is the highest-profile business figure indicted in a sprawling corruption investigation that’s also led to Park’s impeachment and spurred outrage over “chronic corruption” in ties between government and family-run conglomerates. Special Prosecutor Park Young-soo has called the legal contest surrounding Lee South Korea’s “trial of the century,” given his global profile and the amounts of money involved.