Prosecution Summarily Indicts Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong with a 50 Million Won Fine for 'Illegal Propofol Use' Allegation

Lee Jae-yong's Side: "Due to Medical Treatment... Response Will Be Carefully Reviewed and Decided"

Lee Jae-yong, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The prosecution has filed a summary indictment against Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong on charges of illegal propofol use.

The Violent Crime Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Won Ji-ae) filed a summary indictment against Vice Chairman Lee on the 4th, charging him with violating the Narcotics Control Act and imposing a fine of 50 million won.

A summary indictment is a procedure in which the court is requested to issue a summary order through a written review without referring the case to a formal trial.

Earlier, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission received a public interest report stating that "Vice Chairman Lee habitually used propofol at a plastic surgery clinic in Gangnam" and requested an investigation from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

Vice Chairman Lee's side denied the illegal drug use charges and requested the convening of the Prosecution Investigation Deliberation Committee. The committee, held in March, recommended suspending the investigation into Vice Chairman Lee, but the vote on whether to prosecute was tied, resulting in rejection.

Meanwhile, on the same day, Vice Chairman Lee's lawyer stated regarding the prosecution's summary indictment, "It was a medical treatment performed by a professional doctor during the treatment process at the hospital," and added, "We will carefully review and decide on future responses."

It is reported that Vice Chairman Lee's lawyer advised him to accept the prosecution's disposition to minimize judicial risks by concluding the case early.

A Samsung Electronics official said, "It is regrettable that the prosecution did not accept the claim of innocence," but added, "However, we think it is fortunate that the case was concluded without a trial."

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