[Yonhap Photo]
The prosecution demanded on Monday that Samsung Group heir Lee Jae-yong be sentenced to 12 years in prison for bribery and other charges in a massive corruption scandal involving ousted former President Park Geun-hye.
The independent counsel indicted Lee, the vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, in February on charges of providing or promising 43.3 billion won (US$38 million) to Park's friend Choi Soon-sil.
In return, he secured government backing for the merger of two Samsung units in 2015, a vital step for cementing his control over South Korea's biggest conglomerate founded by his grandfather, according to the prosecution.
The 49-year-old heir to the sprawling business empire is also accused of embezzlement, hiding assets overseas, concealment of criminal proceeds and perjury.
The court's ruling is to be delivered later this month and is expected to affect ongoing trials for Park and Choi.
During the trial, the special prosecution also requested 10 years in prison for three top executives of the group for their roles in the scandal. They are Choi Gee-sung, former head of Samsung's now-disbanded control tower Future Strategy Office; Chang Choong-ki, then vice head; and Park Sang-jin, a president of Samsung Electronics. It demanded seven years for another executive Hwang Sung-soo.
(Yonhap)
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