Seoul - Samsung Group leader Jay Y. Lee
appeared at the South Korean special prosecutor's office for
questioning on Monday as part of a wider investigation into an
influence-peddling scandal that could topple President Park
Geun-hye.
The special prosecutor has focused on South Korea's biggest
conglomerate, accusing Lee in his capacity as Samsung chief of
pledging 43 billion won ($37.31 million) to a business and
organisations backed by Park's friend, Choi Soon-sil, in
exchange for support for a 2015 merger of two Samsung companies.
The funding included sponsorship for the equestrian career
of Choi's daughter, who is under arrest in Denmark after being
sought by South Korean authorities.
Park, Lee, Choi, and Samsung Group have all denied
bribery accusations.
Proving illicit dealings between Park or her confidantes and
Samsung Group is critical for the special prosecutor's case that
ultimately targets Park, analysts have said.
Park was impeached by parliament in December and South
Korea's Constitutional Court will decide whether to uphold that
decision. She has been stripped of her powers in the meantime.
Lee arrived at the prosecution office in southern Seoul
early on Monday in a black sedan, dressed in a dark blue suit
and tie and flanked by Samsung Group officials and his lawyer.
Read also: A Presidential scandal and Samsung succession
"I will once again tell the truth to the special
prosecution," Samsung Group's third-generation leader told
reporters before entering an elevator. He gave no details.
Outside the prosecutor's office, protesters held up signs
calling for his arrest.
Executives questioned
The special prosecution team said investigators were
questioning two other Samsung executives as suspects. Both are
officers of the Korea Equestrian Federation and have been
questioned previously in the case.
One of those two, Samsung Electronics president Park
Sang-jin, did not respond to reporters on his arrival at the
special prosecution team's office.
Lee Kyu-chul, spokesman for the special prosecution office,
told a news briefing the office would decide soon whether to
make a second arrest warrant request for the Samsung Group
chief. He did not comment on other details, including what Jay
Y. Lee, 48, during Monday's questioning.
Spokesman Lee said prosecutors would also consider whether
to seek arrest warrants for four other Samsung Group executives
identified as suspects. The prosecutor's office had previously
said it would not seek arrests for any Samsung executives other
than Jay Y. Lee.
In January, the special prosecution sought a warrant to
arrest Samsung chief Lee after questioning him for more than 22
hours, accusing him of paying bribes to win the state pension
fund's support for the controversial merger of Samsung C&T Corp
and Cheil Industries Inc.
However, a Seoul court rejected that request.
Chang Choong-ki, deputy head of Samsung Group's corporate
strategy office, known informally as its "control tower", was
also questioned as a suspect on Sunday and returned home hours
later.
Shares in Samsung Electronics were down 0.9 percent by 0600
GMT on Monday, compared with a flat wider market.
"The issue will have limited impact on share prices, except
if the worst-case scenario happens, since political issues
previously did not have a big influence on share prices or
earnings," said Bae Sung-young, a stock analyst at Hyundai
Securities.