LEE JAE-YONG ATTENDS TRIAL HEARING

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Samsung Group heir Lee Jae-yong attended a trial hearing on bribery charges against him on November 9, after he skipped a pre-trial hearing late last month because of his father's funeral. Lee attended a trial hearing for the first time in ten months.

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Samsung Group heir Lee Jae-yong attended a revocation trial hearing on allegations that he had given bribes to influential figures including ousted President Park Geun-hye to smooth out his succession of the conglomerate's control. Last year, the Supreme Court returned the case to the lower court, arguing what could be considered an additional five billion won in bribes should be taken into consideration.

[Soundbite] LEE JAE-YONG(SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS VICE CHAIRMAN(OCT. 25, 2019)) : "I am sincerely apologizing for causing concerns to many people. I am sorry."

He skipped a pre-trial hearing last month because of his father's funeral. This marks the first time in ten months Lee appeared in a trial hearing on the bribery case. Previously, the court ordered Samsung to set up an independent committee tasked with monitoring the conglomerate's compliance with the law. But the trial process was halted for nine months, since the independent counsel team investigating the case boycotted the trial. But the trial resumed after the Supreme Court turned down the special prosecutor's request. Throughout judicial deliberations, the court will listen to Lee's defense counsel and the special prosecutor's explanations on why they both appealed the lower court's ruling. It will then discuss how to proceed with the trial in the future. Monday's hearing will likely focus on the designation of outside experts who will examine whether or not Samsung is operating the compliance panel effectively. Previously, the court said the effective operation of the compliance committee can be regarded as Samsung's sincere repentance and taken into account for sentencing. The special counsel team initially opposed the decision and refused to recommend some of the outside experts. But it delivered its recommendation on October 29 at the order of the court. Lee is being tried on charges of giving bribes to former President Park Geun-hye and her confidant Choi Seo-won to grease the wheels for his succession. Some analysts believe Lee could face a jail term, as an additional amount of money was added to the bribe he provided to Choi. The bench, the special prosecutor team and the defense counsel are predicted to stage a heated legal debate over whether Samsung's compliance committee should be considered as a basis to reduce the sentence for Lee.