Samsung chief avoids arrest in South Korean corruption scandal
On Thursday, South Korean judges denied a request by prosecutors to arrest Lee Jae-yong, the vice chairman of Samsung Group and acting head of the company, over accusations of bribery, embezzlement, and perjury. Lee was accused of giving multimillion-dollar bribes to Choi Soon-sil, a friend of the South Korean President, in exchange for the approval of a 2015 merger between two Samsung Group affiliates, Cheil Industries and Samsung C&T.
The judge said in a statement that the arrest of Lee was not necessary, saying "it is difficult to acknowledge the necessity and substantiality of an arrest at the current stage." Lee isn't out of the woods though, and could still face another arrest warrant as the prosecutors gather more evidence. In a statement to Reuters, a Samsung spokesperson said "We appreciate the fact that the merits of this case can now be determined without the need for detention."