'Lee Jae-yong Propofol Allegation' Informant Demands Money... Arrested on Extortion Charges

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 allegations of accounting fraud at Samsung Biologics, is entering the courtroom to attend the warrant hearing held on the 8th at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The whistleblower who raised allegations of habitual propofol use by Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong has been arrested on charges of demanding money from the vice chairman.

According to the court on the 4th, Judge Jang Young-chae of the Seoul Central District Court held a pre-trial detention hearing for Kim, who is accused of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (joint extortion), on the 26th of last month and issued an arrest warrant, citing "risk of flight."

Kim is accused of demanding money from Vice Chairman Lee and threatening to make additional disclosures related to propofol if his demands were not met. Previously, Kim had reported to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission and investigative media outlet Newstapa that Lee had habitually received propofol injections at a plastic surgery clinic in Gangnam, Seoul.

The Gangnam Police Station in Seoul transferred Kim to the Violent Crimes Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Ho-sam) on the 31st of last month while he was in custody.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.