Samsung's Vice-Chairman and heir, Lee Jae-young has been sentenced to prison by the Seoul High Court in South Korea for two and a half years on Monday after finding him guilty of embezzlement and bribery, according to a CNN report.
This sentence is the result of a retrial ordered by the country's Supreme Court and he has been taken into custody following the verdict.
Lee's return to prison comes at a critical time for Samsung. His father Lee Kun-hee, the company's chairman, died last year. The elder Lee had been comatose since suffering a heart attack in 2014, but remained titular chairman of the company. His son had been operating as Samsung's de facto leader.
Samsung declined to comment about the sentencing, instead referring to a statement from Lee's attorneys.
"This case is, in essence, a violation of corporation's rights to freedom and property by the former president abusing her power," said Injae Lee, the lawyer leading the vice chairman's defense team. "I find the court's decision regrettable."
It is reported that Lee's legal troubles aren't over yet. He faces a separate trial over a controversial 2015 merger that helped him tighten control over the company. Eleven executives from Samsung, including Lee, were indicted last year on charges including illegal transactions, stock manipulation, and perjury.
That case is still pending.
(CNN)
