The billionaire, South Korea’s third-richest man and heir to the sprawling Samsung empire, had been accused of making large donations to foundations run by a close friend and confidante of the deposed South Korean president, Park Geun-hye, in return for political favours. The court said Lee provided bribes anticipating support from Park, who was still president at the time, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency. Earlier, South Korean TV followed him on his journey from a detention centre to the court. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Supporters of South Korea’s ousted president wave national flags during a protest demanding the release of Lee Jae-yong in Seoul on Friday. Photograph: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty ImagesMore than 400 people applied for the 30 seats in the public gallery to witness what South Korean media billed as the “trial of the century”.

Source: The Guardian August 25, 2017 06:36 UTC