Samsung heir, other top executives, indicted on corruption allegations

Enlarge / Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of Samsung, leaves after attending a court hearing at the Seoul Central District Court last month in Seoul, South Korea. The de facto leader of Samsung was indicted Tuesday. (credit: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

Lee Jae-yong, the 48-year-old vice chairman of Samsung, was indicted in South Korea on bribery and other allegations Tuesday in a broadening corruption scandal that also saw charges leveled against four other top Samsung executives.

Lee, one of South Korea's best-known business leaders, was taken into custody last month following the issuance of an arrest warrant alleging bribery, perjury, embezzlement, and other charges. He is largely considered the head of Samsung. His father, the chairman, was hospitalized in 2014 after suffering a heart attack and remains ill.

Investigators believe that Lee, who is also known by the name Jay Y. Lee, is involved in a political corruption scandal that resulted in last year's impeachment of South Korean President Park Geun-hye.

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