Prosecutors Demand 12 Years in Jail for Samsung Chief on Appeal

Prosecutors have demanded a 12-year prison sentence for Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong at his appeals trial on Wednesday.

The prosecution said this is a standard case of corruption involving politicians and business leaders, and requested the same 12 years it demanded at first instance in August.

Though the lower court found Lee guilty of all five charges, including bribery and embezzlement, it sentenced him to only five years, saying that some of the money Samsung donated to two foundations run by then-President Park Geun-hye's crony Choi Soon-sil cannot be considered a bribe.

This time, in the hope of getting a different result, the prosecution broadened the bribery charge to make it easier to prove Lee guilty.

Another change on appeal specifies a bribery charge related to Samsung's sponsorship of the equestrian training of Choi's daughter. It is supported by some new evidence -- text messages and call logs between former Park aide An Chong-bum and executives at Samsung, which show them discussing the purchase of horses.

The court said the verdict will be out on Feb. 5.