The Central District Prosecutors' Office Holds Chief Meeting Today to Discuss Whether to Indict Lee Jae-yong... Final Decision Expected Next Week

Lee Jae-yong, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics, who is under prosecution investigation for allegations of unfair succession of management rights related to the merger of the former Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries, as well as accounting fraud allegations involving Samsung Biologics, is entering the courtroom to attend the warrant hearing held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 8th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution investigating allegations of illegal succession of Samsung's management rights is expected to make a final decision as early as next week on whether to take legal action against Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong and others.

According to the legal community on the 17th, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office held a meeting of chief prosecutors to discuss the direction of the Samsung investigation and gather opinions on the matter. It is also known that Lee Sung-yoon, head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, attended the meeting along with the first to fourth deputy prosecutors and chief prosecutors under the third deputy prosecutor.

The meeting appears to have been arranged to finalize opinions ahead of Lee's face-to-face weekly report to Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl scheduled for next Wednesday (22nd). Considering the prosecution personnel reshuffle planned for the end of July, the prosecution is expected to make a final decision on whether to indict Vice Chairman Lee and others next week and conclude the investigation. Traditionally, the head of the district prosecutors' office holds meetings with deputy prosecutors on important cases, and the deputy prosecutors hold meetings with chief prosecutors, so today's chief prosecutors' meeting is an unusual form. A prosecution official responded cautiously, saying, "It is difficult to confirm the schedule or content of internal meetings."

The investigation review committee composed of external experts concluded on the 26th of last month, by an overwhelming vote of 10 to 3, that the prosecution should stop the investigation into Vice Chairman Lee's alleged illegal succession of management rights and decide not to prosecute him.

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