CONFLICTS

Trial of Samsung heir focuses on father-to-son succession

Associated Press
Published | Updated

A woman walks by Samsung Electronics TV at its shop in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, April 7, 2017. Samsung Electronics said Friday its first-quarter profit jumped 48 percent, a better-than-expected result that analysts believed to be driven by strong smartphone components. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) (The Associated Press)

A visitor looks at Samsung Electronics Galaxy S8 and S8+ smartphone cases at its shop in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, April 7, 2017. Samsung Electronics said Friday its first-quarter profit jumped 48 percent, a better-than-expected result that analysts believed to be driven by strong smartphone components. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) (The Associated Press)

In this March 24, 2017 photo, a man walks past near a logo of Samsung Electronics in Seoul, South Korea. Samsung Electronics said Friday, April 7, 2017 its first-quarter profit jumped 48 percent likely due to smartphone component sales. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) (The Associated Press)

The scion of South Korea's Samsung business empire Lee Jae-yong, has appeared in court on trial for bribery and other charges.

Lee listened quietly without speaking Friday as South Korean prosecutors presented evidence they said showed why and how the 48-year-old used 43 billion won ($38 million) in corporate funds to bribe the country's impeached president, Park Geun-hye, and a close confidante in exchange for supporting a smooth leadership transition at Samsung.

The prosecutors focused on Lee's alleged motivation for seeking government help with a father-to-son leadership transition in the country's largest business group.

Samsung has denied any wrongdoing and Lee has pleaded not guilty.

Lee assumed de facto leadership of the conglomerate after his father Lee Kun-hee, who is Samsung Electronics' chairman, fell sick in May 2014.