1 trial of Lee Jae-yong to be in one month
[Digital Times, Choi Yong-soon] Lee Jae-yong, a vice president of Samsung Electronics, 1 trial to be in one month. The vice president is being tried to be arrested for bribing former President Park Geun-hye and Choi Sun-sil, a non-beneficiary. Once the trial reaches its final stage, Samsung, who has been in a state of absence for a long time, is tense to the trial. Although, Samsung is currently making the most of its semiconductor business with its bold investment in the past, it is concerned that if the vice president does not exist for a long time, it will hinder preparations for the future including new investment.

According to the industry on July 17, the 41st trial will be held, and the vice president will decide on trial on the 2nd of the next month as soon as possible. Judging is approaching two weeks later, trials are being held three times a week, four times a week. Especially, former president Park is scheduled to appear in the vice-president`s trial on July 19. Park did not appear in the court on July 5 due to her health problems, but the court again adopted Park as a key witness.

There is still no judging evidence that this vice-chairman`s bribery charges have yet to be proven despite the trials have been going on for more than 40 times. The core of the trial is whether Samsung has illegally asked Samsung for the merger of Samsung C & T and Cheil Industries, and whether Blue House intervened. Earlier, the Special Rapporteur presented the handbook of former President An Jong-bum, who recorded Park`s instructions as evidence to prove it. However, the court did not recognize the handbook as evidence but adopted it only as circumstantial evidence.

Meanwhile, Samsung hopes the trial will be proven innocent in the first round and the company is concerned that if the vice president`s management vacancy prolongs, the future of the group will become uncertain. Samsung Electronics posted a record operating profit of KRW 14 trillion in the second quarter. However, this is only a bold investment in the past, and without this vice president, new investments and aggressive management for the future will be inevitable.

A Samsung representative said, "We cannot predict the ruling at all, but we hope that Lee Jae-yong will prove his innocence. There is no next without vice president.”



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