An appeals court will hand down its verdict this afternoon -- on Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong,... who was found guilty by a lower court of offering kickbacks to jailed former President Park Geun-hye, and her close friend Choi Soon-sil.
Cha Sang-mi reports.
It's been almost a year since Samsung's de facto leader Lee Jae-yong was detained.
An appeals court on Monday will reveal how long he should remain behind bars.
The heir apparent of Korea's largest conglomerate was sentenced to five-years in prison in late August of last year for giving eight-point-one million U.S. dollars to the former president Park Geun-hye and her longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil.
The money -- offered as a form of sponsorship for Choi's then dressage rider daughter Chung Yoo-ra -- was in return for government backing of a merger of two Samsung business units, a process deemed vital for his leadership succession.
And a special prosecutors' team had demanded a twelve-year jail term for the 50-year-old billionaire on the charges the same month.
Monday's hearing will reveal whether the court sees the sponsorship as a form of bribery.
Four former Samsung executives will also hear their verdicts on Monday afternoon.
Lee was indicted his alleged role in the corruption scandal last February on five charges, including bribery, embezzlement, and hiding assets overseas.
The upcoming verdict will not only impact Lee,... but is also expected to affect the ruling on former President Park, due next month.
Cha Sang-mi, Arirang News.
