An appeals court will hand down its verdict this afternoon -- on Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong,... who was found guilty by a lower court of offering kickbacks to jailed former President Park Geun-hye, and her close friend Choi Soon-sil.<br />Cha Sang-mi reports. <br /> It's been almost a year since Samsung's de facto leader Lee Jae-yong was detained.<br />An appeals court on Monday will reveal how long he should remain behind bars.<br /> The heir apparent of Korea's largest conglomerate was sentenced to five-years in prison in late August of last year for giving eight-point-one million U.S. dollars to the former president Park Geun-hye and her longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil.<br />The money -- offered as a form of sponsorship for Choi's then dressage rider daughter Chung Yoo-ra -- was in return for government backing of a merger of two Samsung business units, a process deemed vital for his leadership succession.<br /> And a special prosecutors' team had demanded a twelve-year jail term for the 50-year-old billionaire on the charges the same month.<br />Monday's hearing will reveal whether the court sees the sponsorship as a form of bribery.<br />Four former Samsung executives will also hear their verdicts on Monday afternoon.<br /><br /> Lee was indicted his alleged role in the corruption scandal last February on five charges, including bribery, embezzlement, and hiding assets overseas.<br /> The upcoming verdict will not only impact Lee,... but is also expected to affect the ruling on former President Park, due next month.<br />Cha Sang-mi, Arirang News. <br />
