Samsung executives were questioned over a corruption case that involves South Korea's impeached president
REUTERS/Rick Wilking
Samsung corporate strategy office vice chairman Choi Gee-sung and president Chang Choong-ki were interviewed by prosecutors on Monday about the corruption allegations, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.
The South Korean tech giant is accused of giving vast sums of money to charities set up by Choi Soon-sil, who is said to be a close friend of Park's. Choi has been charged with coercion and attempted fraud, according to the BBC.
Samsung allegedly made the donations to Choi in return for political support from the South Korean government regarding a controversial merger. The merger involves Samsung's construction arm, Samsung C&T, and an affiliate firm, Cheil Industries. The deal was passed despite significant opposition from shareholders, who claimed it would hurt them while benefiting the family of Samsung's group owner Lee Kun-hee.
The Samsung executives are currently being treated as witnesses and have not been directly accused of any wrong doing, Bloomberg reports.
Samsung did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.
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