SKorean probe team to decide on Samsung chief’s arrest

By Alex Jensen

SEOUL (AA) - South Korean investigators said Sunday they will come to a decision within 24 hours on whether to arrest Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong.

Lee is caught up in a wide-ranging scandal that led to President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment on Dec. 9 -- the powerful business figure underwent an overnight interrogation last week on suspicions that his company paid tens of millions of dollars to secure backing for a merger in 2015 through a now detained presidential confidante, Choi Soon-sil.

“We plan to make a decision on whether to seek the warrant before a regular press briefing tomorrow [at 2:30 p.m. on Monday],” a probe team spokesperson revealed Sunday according to local news agency Yonhap.

Investigators had anticipated reaching an outcome over the weekend, and the delay may reflect concerns that the Samsung chief’s arrest could have negative consequences for South Korea’s sluggish economy.

“We are taking into account all of the issues raised so far, but the most important factor for us to consider is the law and principle," the spokesperson insisted.

Lee, 48, is effectively in charge of the South’s biggest conglomerate because his father, Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee, has been hospitalized since a heart attack in 2014.

The 2015 merger under scrutiny was opposed by some shareholders, as it was seen as an attempt to smooth Samsung’s father-son power transition -- the deal went through thanks to key support from South Korea’s state-run pension fund.

Lee has repeatedly denied buying any favors, although he claimed under interrogation that he was pressured to give donations by the president.

Further light could come from Choi’s expected appearance as a witness at Park’s impeachment trial Monday morning, having refused to show up at an earlier hearing.