Samsung’s Head May Be About To Be Arrested For Corruption Scandal

Samsung Group’s chief Jay Y. Lee is not starting the week off well as South Korea’s special prosecutor sought a warrant on Monday to have him arrested.

The prosecutor has accused Lee of paying multi-million dollar bribes to a friend of President Park Geun-hye.

According to their office, Lee is accused of paying bribes total 43 billion won ($36.42 million) to organizations linked to Choi Soon-sil, a friend of the president, in order to secure the 2015 merger of two affiliates and cement his control of the family business.

He is also accused of embezzlement and perjury.

“The special prosecutors’ office, in making this decision to seek an arrest warrant, determined that while the country’s economic conditions are important, upholding justice takes precedence,” special prosecution spokesman Lee Kyu-chul told a media briefing.

Last month President Park was impeached and now prosecutors have evidence that Park and Choi shared profits through bribery payments.

Lee is scheduled to appear on Wednesday morning at the Seoul central district court and it will then be decided whether to grant the arrest warrant.