- Title: South Korea's prosecutor delays decision on arrest warrant of Samsung's Lee
- Date: 15th January 2017
- Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (JANUARY 15, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VIEW OF NEWS BRIEFING ROOM / LETTERS ON WALL READING (Korean): "SPECIAL PROSECUTOR FOR INVESTIGATION ON THE INFLUENCE-PEDDLING SCANDAL CENTRED AROUND PRESIDENT PARK GEUN-HYE AND CIVILIANS INCLUDING CHOI SOON-SIL" SPOKESMAN FOR THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, LEE KYU-CHUL, AND OFFICER WALKING TOWARD PODIUM AND BOWING JOURNALISTS SEATED LEE STANDING AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SPOKESMAN FOR THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, LEE KYU-CHUL, SAYING: "This is quite a significant matter, so it has been delayed from what we said on Friday." JOURNALISTS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SPOKESMAN FOR THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, LEE KYU-CHUL, SAYING: "Considering the complexity and gravity of the matter, we will make a decision no later than a news briefing tomorrow." JOURNALISTS SEATED NEWS BRIEFING IN PROGRESS LEE AND OFFICER BOWING AND WALKING AWAY
- Embargoed: 29th January 2017 06:50
- Keywords: south korea samsung jay y. lee arrest warrant special prosecutor political scandal park geun-hye
- Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- City: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- Country: South Korea
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0015Z6XT8N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: PLEASE REFER TO EDIT 3117-SOUTH KOREA-POLITICS/SAMSUNG GROUP FILE SENT ON JANUARY 11, 2017 FOR FILE MATERIAL ON SAMSUNG
South Korea's special prosecutor on Sunday (January 15) delayed until Monday (January 16) a decision on whether to seek a warrant to arrest Samsung Group leader Jay Y. Lee, a suspect in an influence-peddling investigation involving President Park Geun-hye, citing the gravity of the case.
The special prosecution said on Friday (January 13) it would make a decision on Lee by Sunday. Spokesman Lee Kyu-chul told reporters investigators were deliberating all factors including the potential economic impact from an arrest of Jay Y. Lee, chief of the country's top conglomerate.
Prosecutors have been investigating whether Samsung provided 30 billion won ($25.46 million) to a business and foundations backed by Park's friend, Choi Soon-sil, in exchange for the national pension fund's support for a 2015 merger of two Samsung affiliates.
The Samsung chief denied bribery accusations during a parliamentary hearing in December.
"This is quite a significant matter, so it has been delayed from what we said on Friday," spokesman Lee said at the briefing.
"Considering the complexity and gravity of the matter, we will make a decision no later than a news briefing tomorrow," Lee added.
The spokesman also said investigators would also decide on whether to seek arrest warrants for three other Samsung Group executives who were questioned.
Samsung's Lee, 48, was questioned for 22 hours before leaving the special prosecutors' office in Seoul on Friday as part of the investigation into a corruption scandal that has led to President Park's impeachment by parliament.
Samsung has acknowledged making contributions to the two foundations as well as a consulting firm controlled by Choi but has repeatedly denied accusations of lobbying to push through the merger of Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries Inc.
The special prosecution also plans to indict early next week National Pension Service chief Moon Hyung-pyo, who was arrested in December after acknowledging he pressured the fund to approve the merger while he was health minister. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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