Probe Clears Lee Jae-yong

An independent counsel investigating Samsung Group’s alleged slush funds on Thursday exempted Samsung chairman’s son Lee Jae-yong and all of the 27 executives of Samsung affiliates from indictment due to lack of evidence. They had been charged with breach of trust for their alleged involvement in the so-called “eSamsung case.”

The special probe team led by Cho Joon-woong said, “We believe that Samsung’s structural reform headquarters was involved in the establishment and selling shares of four companies, including eSamsung.” “However, regardless of the instructions of the reform headquarters, nine affiliates, including Cheil Communications Inc., underwent legitimate decision-making processes and purchased the eSamsung stocks at a reasonable price. So it is difficult to say that they breached trust.”

dnsp@donga.com