Prosecutors seek 7-year jail for Samsung ex-chief

Mumbai: Prosecutors at a South Korean court have demanded a seven-year jail term for former Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee for tax evasion and other charges, saying the heads of the country's powerful 'chaebols' should not be immune to the process of law. They also demanded that Lee, who was forced to resign as head of the Samsung Group, be fined 350 billion won ($350 million).

Lee's attorneys denied the charges and sought leniency considering the contributions of Samsung and Lee to South Korea's economic development.

The court will pronounce its sentence next week after reviewing the prosecution's demand.

Tax evasion carries a possible sentence from five years to life in prison, but judges have the discretion.

Considering that South Korean judges have repeatedly refused to hand down prison sentences in other such high-profile corporate cases, it is unlikely that the 66-year-old Lee will spend any time inside prison.

Prosecutors started probe against Lee and Samsung following allegations by a former company lawyer that Samsung created a large slush fund to bribe prosecutors, officials and other influential figures.