April 24, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] The Seoul Central District Court on Aug. 23 barred the live coverage of the upcoming verdict on Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong.

The court also decided not to permit the taking of still photos during the trial on Aug. 25.

 

“Lee Jae-yong and all other defendants submitted their opinions opposing filming or broadcasting of the trial,” the panel of judges said in a statement. “We decided it would be right not to allow broadcasting when considering the public interest that can be realized by filming and broadcasting, compared with irreparable disadvantages and damage the defendants could suffer.”

The court also took into consideration concern that if the trial is televised, charges against Lee and other defendants could be mistaken for facts, which would be in violation of the principle that suspects are innocent until proven guilty.

Special prosecutors indicted Lee in February on charges of providing or promising 43.3 billion won (US$38 million) to Park’s longtime friend and confidante Choi Soon-sil.

In return, he secured government backing for the merger of two Samsung units in 2015, a vital step for cementing his control over Korea’s biggest conglomerate founded by his grandfather, according to the prosecution.

Lee has denied the charges against him.

By Alex Lee and newswires (alexlee@heraldcorp.com)