Prosecutors Press Case Against Samsung Heir in Bribery Trial
- Lawyers deny bribery charges in Lee’s first court appearance
- Trial overshadows Samsung earnings, S8 smartphone preorders
Jay Y. Lee arrives at Court in Seoul on April 7.
Photographer: SeongJoon Cho/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
South Korean prosecutors laid out their case against Samsung Electronics Co. Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee by revealing how a top government aide documented instances of alleged bribery in 39 handwritten notebooks.
Wearing a gray suit without a tie, Lee listened calmly as prosecutors took an hour to outline charges against him during his first court appearance in the graft scandal that cost South Korean President Park Geun-hye her job. Prosecutors said notebooks from An Chong-bum, a former chief secretary for economic affairs and policy coordination, back claims Lee ordered money funneled to a friend of Park to secure government backing for a pivotal 2015 merger.