'이재용 수사심의위' 개최 여부 오늘 결론<br /><br />Could the world's largest computer chip and smartphone maker, Samsung Electronics, get the backing of members of the public as its de facto leader keeps finding him in legal jeopardy?<br />An independent citizen panel will be discussing the legitimacy of the ongoing probe into Lee Jae-yong, just days after a Seoul court rejected prosecutors' request for an arrest warrant.<br />Jang Tae-hyun has the details.<br />The verdict on the validity of the indictment of the de facto head of Samsung Group Lee Jae-yong is in the hands of an external committee, comprised of 15 citizens.<br />They are scheduled to meet on Thursday.<br />The discussion comes as Samsung previously requested the establishment of a citizen panel to judge if the latest investigation for accounting fraud and stock manipulation was needed.<br />This system of review was implemented two years ago to enhance the neutrality and fairness of the prosecution's probes.<br />The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office plans to establish a deliberation committee to internally discuss the request.<br />Prosecutors and Lee's lawyers cannot be at the discussion, but have to submit a 30-page position statement.<br />Fifteen regular people were selected as the committee members to look into the validity of the investigation and the indictment procedures.<br />The result will come out later on Thursday.<br />Even though the decision is not legally binding, experts say this will influence the prosecutors' intent to indict Lee to some degree.<br />In the meantime, a separate trial is being held for Lee Jae-yong, about bribing a confidante of former President Park Geun-hye.<br />His sentence was halved from the initial five years, but the case has been sent back to the lower court for retrial.<br />Jang Tae-hyun, Arirang News<br />
