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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Samsung boss questioned in South Korea corruption probe | Samsung boss questioned in South Korea corruption probe |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong is being questioned at the prosecutor's office in Seoul as a suspect in South Korea's biggest political corruption scandal. | Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong is being questioned at the prosecutor's office in Seoul as a suspect in South Korea's biggest political corruption scandal. |
| The firm is accused of giving donations to several non-profit foundations operated by Choi Soon-sil, a confidante of President Park Geun-hye. | The firm is accused of giving donations to several non-profit foundations operated by Choi Soon-sil, a confidante of President Park Geun-hye. |
| The donations were allegedly made in exchange for political support of a controversial merger. | The donations were allegedly made in exchange for political support of a controversial merger. |
| The scandal has led to President Park being impeached last December. | The scandal has led to President Park being impeached last December. |
| "I deeply apologize to the people for failing to show a positive image because of this incident," Mr Lee told reporters upon arriving on Thursday morning. | "I deeply apologize to the people for failing to show a positive image because of this incident," Mr Lee told reporters upon arriving on Thursday morning. |
| Earlier this week two other Samsung executives were interviewed by the special prosecutors, but were treated as witnesses rather than suspects. | Earlier this week two other Samsung executives were interviewed by the special prosecutors, but were treated as witnesses rather than suspects. |
| The claims against the company circle around a merger between the electronics giant's construction arm, Samsung C&T, and an affiliate firm, Cheil Industries. | The claims against the company circle around a merger between the electronics giant's construction arm, Samsung C&T, and an affiliate firm, Cheil Industries. |
| Prosecutors allege that Samsung gave €2.8m euros ($3.1m; £2.5m) to a company co-owned by Ms Choi and her daughter, in return for Ms Park's support for the deal. | Prosecutors allege that Samsung gave €2.8m euros ($3.1m; £2.5m) to a company co-owned by Ms Choi and her daughter, in return for Ms Park's support for the deal. |
| Lee Jae-yong, also known as Jay Y. Lee, has already given evidence to politicians over the scandal, but this is the first time he has been quizzed as a suspect by investigators. | |
| Analysis: Stephen Evans, South Korea correspondent | |
| Connoisseurs of the apology will study this case for years to come. There has now been a string of important people saying they are deeply sorry, even as they profess their innocence of wrong-doing. | |
| On his way into the investigator's office, Jay Y. Lee said he was sorry for portraying a bad image. In the past, President Park said she was sorry - for being too trusting. | |
| And her mentor, Cho Soon-sil, also said she was sorry, though for what isn't clear - she went on to deny criminality. | |
| Incidentally, Mr Lee has a record of apologies. Four years ago, he took his son out of a school after it was revealed that the boy had a space there meant for the underprivileged (which the son of the acting-head of Samsung clearly is not - in the land where the son always rises, the lad may well end up as the head of the company himself). | |
| There will be more apologies before the current saga is over. | |
| At the parliamentary hearing in December, Samsung admitted giving a total of 20.4bn won (£16m; $17.46m) to the two foundations, but denied seeking favours. | At the parliamentary hearing in December, Samsung admitted giving a total of 20.4bn won (£16m; $17.46m) to the two foundations, but denied seeking favours. |
| And Mr Lee also confirmed the firm gave a horse and money to help the equestrian career of Ms Choi's daughter, Chung Yoo-ra, something he said he now regretted. | And Mr Lee also confirmed the firm gave a horse and money to help the equestrian career of Ms Choi's daughter, Chung Yoo-ra, something he said he now regretted. |
| Mr Lee is currently vice-chairman of Samsung Electronics. But since his father, Lee Kun-hee, suffered a heart attack in 2014, he is considered de facto boss of the entire Samsung Group conglomerate. | Mr Lee is currently vice-chairman of Samsung Electronics. But since his father, Lee Kun-hee, suffered a heart attack in 2014, he is considered de facto boss of the entire Samsung Group conglomerate. |
| Politicians voted on 9 December to impeach President Park over the scandal - a decision South Korea's constitutional court has six months to uphold or overturn. | Politicians voted on 9 December to impeach President Park over the scandal - a decision South Korea's constitutional court has six months to uphold or overturn. |
| Until then she remains formally president but stripped of her powers, which are handed to the prime minister, a presidential appointee. | Until then she remains formally president but stripped of her powers, which are handed to the prime minister, a presidential appointee. |
| Ms Choi is on trial for charges including corruption and coercion. | Ms Choi is on trial for charges including corruption and coercion. |
| Ms Park's position began to unravel in October last year when details of her friendship with Ms Choi began to emerge. | Ms Park's position began to unravel in October last year when details of her friendship with Ms Choi began to emerge. |
| They included revelations that the president had allowed her old friend - who holds no government role - to edit political speeches. | They included revelations that the president had allowed her old friend - who holds no government role - to edit political speeches. |
| Since then, hundreds of thousands of protestors have gathered every weekend in Seoul to demand Ms Park stands down. | Since then, hundreds of thousands of protestors have gathered every weekend in Seoul to demand Ms Park stands down. |
| Ms Park denies wrongdoing but has apologised for the way she managed her relationship with Ms Choi, who also denies committing criminal offences. | Ms Park denies wrongdoing but has apologised for the way she managed her relationship with Ms Choi, who also denies committing criminal offences. |