South Korean prosecutors, who are investigating an influence-peddling scandal that has led to a vote of impeachment against President Park Geun-hye, are close to deciding whether to seek an arrest warrant against the heir of the Samsung group on bribery charges.
They said they were in the final stages of reviewing the impact of such a move, including whether the arrest of Lee Jae-yong, vice-chairman of Samsung Electronics, would have an adverse effect on the weak national economy, according to a Yonhap report.
The scandal led to the country's parliament voting to impeach Park on 8 December 2016. The Constitutional Court must decide whether to uphold the motion, a process that could take up to 180 days.
The Samsung Group, South Korea's largest business conglomerate, is alleged to have signed a 22 billion won (US$18.3 million) contract with a Germany-based company owned by Choi Soon-il, a confidante of Park, and her daughter under a consulting arrangement to pay for the daughter's equestrian training.
{loadposition sam08}The investigators are examining whether this contract was signed as a quid pro quo for the state-run pension fund's backing a major 2015 merger deal between Samsung subsidiaries.
Allegations have been made that the presidential office put pressure on the state fund to back the merger in return for the alleged favours that Samsung granted Choi.
On Sunday, Lee Kyu-chul, the spokesman for the investigating team, said a decision on whether to ask for an arrest warrant against Lee would be made before a press briefing on Monday afternoon.
"We are taking into account all of issues raised so far, but the most important factor for us to consider is the law and principle," he added.
Charges being considered against Lee include bribery and, depending on the source of the funds, embezzlement and breach of trust. He is also accused of false testimony during a parliamentary hearing in December, during which he claimed to have "never" made donations expecting something in return.