We've been closely following all of the developments linked to Samsung's alleged role in South Korea's influence-peddling scandal that has led to the impeachment of the country's president. Samsung allegedly paid bribes worth more than $35 million to organizations and foundations controlled by a close personal friend of the president in order to win the government's backing for a controversial merger between two of its affiliates.
Samsung Electronics vice chairman and heir apparent of the conglomerate Lee Jae-yong has denied the allegations of bribery. The country's special prosecutor's office tried seeking an arrest warrant for him last month but the request was refused by a Seoul court as it did not see any reason to legally detain the Samsung leader who is already barred from leaving the country. Lee Jae-yong was questioned once again by prosecutors for more than 15 hours earlier this week and they've submitted a second request for an arrest warrant.
The prosecutor's office has said that additional evidence against Lee Jae-yong has been secured and that the charges against him have been expanded to include hiding the proceeds of a criminal act. A Seoul court is now going to decide tomorrow whether or not an arrest warrant is to be issued for the Samsung heir apparent.
