Samsung leader questioned as Korean probe widens

A South Korean special prosecutor’s office will question Samsung Electronics leader Jay Y. Lee as a suspect in a widening influence-peddling scandal that may force the country’s president, Park Geun-hye from office.

Prosecutors have been looking into whether Samsung payments of about 30 billion won (€23.5m) for a business and foundations backed by Ms Park’s friend, Choi Soon-sil, were connected to a 2015 decision by the national pension fund to back a controversial merger of two group affiliates.

Ms Park could become South Korea’s first democratically elected leader to leave office early after parliament voted in December to impeach her over the corruption scandal, which has triggered big weekly rallies calling for her to step down.