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Former Samsung Group chairman Lee Kun-hee will not fight the decision of Korea¡¯s High Court, negating to submit a final appeal to the Supreme Court by last Friday¡¯s deadline. In last month¡¯s appeal trial, the Seoul High Court sentenced Lee to three years in jail suspended for five years and a fine of W11 million (US$1=W1,303).
Since he was acquitted of charges of transferring convertible bonds in Samsung Everland, the group¡¯s de-facto holding company, and Samsung SDS bonds to his children at a bargain price, Lee does not have the right of appeal on this particular charge. Commentators say, since he was found guilty of tax evasion in both of his trials, it was unlikely Lee would receive leniency from the Supreme Court. This may have influenced his decision not to further pursue his case at the Supreme Court. Lee Wan-soo, an attorney for the Samsung Group, said, ¡°There is no special reason. We made the decision after prioritizing Lee¡¯s wishes.¡±
However, since special counsel Cho Joon-woong, who accused Lee, did appeal, the final ruling of Lee¡¯s case will be delivered by the Supreme Court. Since the special probe law on the Samsung Group recommends the ruling of the final appeal court be delivered within two months of an appeal request being filed, the Supreme Court¡¯s final ruling could come as early as December.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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