18 April 2017
South Korean prosecutors, on Monday, charged the chairman of retail giant Lotte, Shin Dong-Bin, of paying $6.15 million to Choi Soon-sil’s sports foundation in exchange for furtherance of his duty-free business.
On Monday prosecutors, formally indicted former president Park Geun-hye on charges of abuse of power, coercion, bribery and leaking state secrets. She remains in prison. Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong is also in the same detention centre as Park Geun-hye. His father, Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee, was convicted twice — and pardoned twice. Korea has a long history of being lenient towards conglomerate (“chaebol”) leaders, in the interest of the economy. Chairmen of Hyundai Motors, SK and Hanwha have also been convicted in the past and were pardoned or had their sentences suspended.
Bribery from Shin has been added to Choi Soon-sil who remains in custody for abusing her connection with the former president for personal gains.

Post Views: 662