Seoul court begins to deliberate Samsung chief's arrest

Lee Jae-yong, the vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, center, is questioned by reporters upon his arrival for a hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017. A South Korean court has begun deliberating on whether to issue an arrest warrant for the Samsung heir accused of offering bribes to the country's president and her close friend. Lee walked into the court on Thursday without speaking. (Choi Jae-gu/Yonhap via AP) (The Associated Press)

Lee Jae-yong, the vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, arrives for a hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017. A South Korean court has begun deliberating on whether to issue an arrest warrant for the Samsung heir accused of offering bribes to the country's president and her close friend. Lee walked into the court on Thursday without speaking. (Choi Jae-gu/Yonhap via AP) KOREA OUT (The Associated Press)

SEOUL, South Korea – A South Korean court has begun deliberating on whether to issue an arrest warrant for a Samsung heir accused of offering bribes to the country's president and her close friend.

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong walked into the Seoul Central District Court on Thursday without speaking.

Prosecutors are seeking permission for the second time to arrest the 48-year-old billionaire heir to Samsung. They accuse him of giving bribes worth $36 million to President Park Geun-hye and her long-time friend in order to win government favors for a smooth company leadership transition.

Prosecutors are also investigating Lee on allegations of embezzlement, hiding assets overseas and perjury.

The court rejected their first attempt to arrest Lee last month, citing a lack of evidence to justify his arrest.