News / Koreas

Senior Samsung executives offer to resign: Report

Friday, 24 February 2017 7:57 AM [ Last Update: Friday, 24 February 2017 9:46 AM ]

This file photo, taken on October 27, 2016, shows visitors looking at a Samsung booth at an expo in Seoul during the Korea Electronics Grand Fair. (By AFP)

Two senior executives with South Korea’s Samsung company have reportedly offered to resign over allegations that the firm has been involved in a high-scale scandal linked to South Korean President Park Geun-hye.

South Korea’s Yonhap reported on Friday that Samsung’s President Chang Choong-gi and Vice Chairman Choi Gee-sung had offered to resign.

Samsung Group did not immediately comment on the report.

Both executives were named as suspects by the South Korean special prosecution in a probe into allegations of bribery.

The Samsung Group’s de facto head, Lee Jae-yong, known professionally as Jay Y. Lee, was arrested as part of the investigation last Friday. He remains in custody awaiting trial.

This image shows Samsung Group’s de facto head and vice chairman, Lee Jae-yong, leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea, February 16, 2017. (By Reuters)

The scandal has led to the impeachment of President Park, who faces accusations that she colluded with her former confidante Choi Soon-sil to pressure big businesses, Samsung included, to “donate” money to companies run by Choi.

Park is presently awaiting a constitutional court verdict on the validity of the parliament’s impeachment vote against her. In the meantime, she retains her title as president but has been stripped of her presidential powers. As of December 9, 2016, Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn has been the country’s acting president, assuming presidential powers and duties.

The prosecution team probing the scandal says Samsung paid nearly 34.5 million dollars to institutions run by Choi.

President Park and Samsung Group have denied the accusations.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir