The trial of the head of Samsung, Jay Y. Lee, is to begin next week, after he was arrested by South Korean judges at the request of the prosecutors. Prosecutors in South Korea call this trial the trial of the century, and it could be so, because we are talking about the head of the largest group of companies in South Korea.
The prosecutors indicted Jay Y. Lee for bribery, embezzlement and hiding some assets in tax havens, other Samsung managers being sent to trial together with him. It all started from a bribe given by the head of Samsung to some close associates of the president in South Korea, to facilitate the merger between two Samsung subsidiaries.
38 million dollars is the amount that the prosecutors identified as an alleged bribe given to the president of South Korea during the past years. Because we are talking about such an important process, it will take place in a court that can accommodate over 150 people, so a lot of press will be present.
Based on South Korean legislation, the process should end in a maximum of 3 months from the moment it starts, so in June we should also know the first verdict. Of course, more than 6 months will pass before a final decision is reached, so it remains to be seen what will be decided in the end and if Jay Y. Lee's lawyers will be able to successfully defend the Samsung boss.
"We are preparing hard, thinking that the upcoming Samsung trial ... could be the trial of the century that the entire world will be watching,"
