Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong Confirmed to Pay 70 Million Won Fine for Illegal Propofol Use

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] Lee Jae-yong, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics, who was prosecuted for illegal administration of propofol, has had his first trial fine confirmed.

According to the legal community on the 3rd, neither Vice Chairman Lee nor the prosecution submitted an appeal to the court by the appeal deadline on the 2nd. In criminal trials, the appeal deadline is within 7 days from the date of sentencing, thus confirming Vice Chairman Lee's first trial sentence.

Vice Chairman Lee is accused of habitually administering propofol, a psychotropic drug, 41 times for non-medical purposes at a plastic surgery clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, from January 2015 to May last year.

The prosecution initially filed a summary indictment against Vice Chairman Lee in June with a fine of 50 million won, but after identifying additional charges, they requested a formal trial to amend the indictment. At the sentencing hearing, the prosecution demanded a fine of 70 million won for Vice Chairman Lee.

Earlier, on the 26th of last month, Judge Jang Young-chae of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 11 ordered Vice Chairman Lee to pay a fine of 70 million won and a confiscation order of 17.02 million won. At that time, Vice Chairman Lee admitted all charges, stating, "This incident happened due to my shortcomings, and although it was for treatment, I deeply reflect on it."

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