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11/02/2024 11:26:32 am

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Samsung Vice Chair to be Questioned over President Park Scandal

Lee Jae-Yong

(Photo : Getty Images) Samsung Vice Chair Lee Jae-Yong is being interviewed by journalists on his arrival at the South Korean special prosecutor’s office .

Samsung Group Vice Chair, Lee Jae-Yong, arrived at the South Korean special prosecutor's office on Thursday morning for questioning over the firm's alleged corruption association in the political scandal that could lead to the historical impeachment of President Park Geun-Hye.

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Dressed in a dark suit with a white shirt and red tie, Lee arrived at the office where he was greeted with journalists seeking to hear his comment on the case and a jeering crowd protesting for his immediate arrest.

"I apologize to the Korean community over our failure to set out a better image on the case," Lee said to journalists. He then bowed before the group of protestors and the media.

The 48-year-old heir of Samsung has been under scrutiny after investigations found a link between the company and Choi Soon-sil, who had been detained since October after charges of abuse of power and attempted fraud and bribery were charged against her. Choi is a close ally of Park. 

Bloomberg reported that an established corruption link that transpired between the two parties will go a long way in determining the fate of Park's presidency.

"Special prosecutors are mainly after President Park," Chung Sun-sup, director at Chaebul.com, said. "In this case, however, to charge Park with bribery, they have to prove her connection with Samsung."

Yahoo News cited an unnamed investigator saying that the chance of the prosecutors to seek a warrant of arrest is "high."

Reports indicated that Lee was expected to be invited for questioning. However, many were surprised when he was called in as a suspect instead of a witness.

Park is on the verge of making a double history as she became the first female president of South Korea and could also be the first to be impeached.

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