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Samsung Heir to Be Formally Tried Over Alleged Propofol Injections, Reports Say

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Lee Jae-yong, the vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, is charged with illegally using the psychotropic drug propofol and will stand formal trial, Yonhap news agency reported, citing sources Tuesday.
Sputnik

Propofol use is prohibited in South Korea for non-medical purposes. The matter will be referred to the Seoul Central District Court, the sources said, adding that the prosecution demanded to impose a fine of 50 million won ($44,000).

In the meantime, Lee Jae-yong is serving jail time for a bribery and embezzlement conviction, and is due to be released in July 2022. The 53-year-old is accused of bribing Choi Soon-sil, a longtime friend of former South Korean President Park Geun-hye, to secure the government's support in succeeding his father as Samsung chief.

In 2017, Lee was sentenced to five years in jail, later reduced to two and a half years and suspended for four years.

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