According to sources a court in South Korea on Friday sentenced Samsung's billionaire heir-apparent Lee Jae-yong to five years in prison for corruption. Sources have stated that Mr. Lee was accused of bribery in a scandal that also led to the impeachment of South Korea's former president.
Currently the case has gripped the public amid growing anger against South Korea's biggest companies, known as chaebols. Earlier the prosecutors had originally sought a 12 year sentence for Mr. Lee in a trial that was closely enmeshed with the case of former president Park Geun-hye, who is also now on trial.
Moreover also known as Jay Y Lee, the de facto head of the world's largest
smartphone maker had been detained since February on a string of corruption
charges and these included including bribery, embezzlement and hiding assets
overseas. Furthermore the 49 year old was accused of giving donations worth
41bn won ($36m; £29m) to non-profit foundations operated by Choi Soon-sil, a
friend of South Korea's former President Park Geun-hye, in return for political
favors.
