Samsung, Hyundai bosses quizzed in South Korea scandal probe

Samsung, Hyundai bosses
quizzed in South Korea
scandal probe.


South Korean President Park Geun-Hye
South Korean prosecutors investigating
a corruption scandal engulfing
President Park-Geun Hye have quizzed
Samsung group scion and the chairman
of Hyundai Motor, a report said Sunday.
Lee Jae-Yong, vice chairman of
Samsung Electronics and the heir-
apparent of the Samsung group, was
being questioned by prosecutors,
Yonhap news agency said.
It cited an official at the Seoul
prosecutors’ office, which is probing
whether Park pressured the firms to
donate millions of dollars to dubious
foundations controlled by her longtime
confidant, Choi Soon-Sil.

Samsung made the largest donation of
more than $15 million and is accused of
separately offering 2.8 million euros
($3.1 million) to Choi to bankroll her
daughter’s equestrian training in
Germany.
Hyundai Motor chairman Chung Mong-
Koo was also quizzed along with the
bosses of other powerful
conglomerates, Yonhap said.
The president reportedly had a meeting
last July with the top businessmen at
her office and urged them to donate
money to the two cultural foundations
that Choi used for personal gain.
Prosecutors also announced Sunday a
plan to quiz Park this week. If this
happens she will be the first South
Korean president to be questioned by
prosecutors while in office.
The “donations” from the firms
amounted to nearly $70 million,
including 20 billion won ($17.5 million)
from Samsung and 12.8 billion won
from Hyundai.
Choi was arrested recently for allegedly
using her ties with Park to coerce
donations from the firms and meddling
in a wide range of state affairs although
she holds no official position.
The scandal has sparked nationwide
fury and massive protests calling for
Park to resign.
Source : The Guardian