by Theresa Kim Hwa-young

Lee Kun-hee, who headed the group for 20 years, is under investigation for corruption and abuse of power. The public prosecutor is also asking for the restitution of 350 million dollars, earned from illicit business. Seven other top managers face charges.

Seoul (AsiaNews) - A Korean tribunal has asked for seven years in prison for Lee Kun-hee, aged 66, the former president of Samsung, accused of corruption. Lee, who has already quit his position at the company, is believed to have pursued "private interests" thanks to the prestige stemming from his leadership role, favouring "illegal business" concluded "through his personal secretary"; he must also respond to charges of "corruption and abuse of power".

The district court of Seoul should reach a verdict within a week: public prosecutor Cho Joon-woong has also asked that the former president be required to pay 350 million dollars. According to judge Cho, interviewed by the national newspaper Yonhap, the key point of the affair is "that the chairman and main shareholder of the conglomerate, in exerting his management right, pursued private interests and engaged in illegal behaviour through his secretarial office". Also charged are the vice-president of the company, Lee Hak-soo - under the accusation of tax evasion - and six other top managers.

"I bear the blame for everything, and I apologise to the people". These were Lee Kun-hee's words at the end of the presentation of the charges; during the hearings, he had always pleaded "not guilty", whereas now he is asking for "clemency" from the judges.

Rocked by the scandal, Samsung has announced a revolution in the company's leadership: the former leader quit after 20 years at the head of the group, and his team has been driven out en masse. An approach aiming "at clarity and transparency" is now being promoted.

• South
• Korea
• Samsung
• president
• trial
• hearing
• charges
• prison
• corruption
• tax
• evasion