SEOUL, Prosecutors on Wednesday expressed their intent to appeal the recent court acquittal of Samsung Electronics Co. Chairman Lee Jae-yong. The Seoul Central District Court on Monday delivered a not-guilty sentence for Lee on charges of market irregularities and others involving the controversial 2015 merger of two Samsung affiliates, Cheil Industries Inc. and Samsung CandT Corp. The merger was seen as crucial to Lee's succession as the heir of the family-controlled firm, as his father, Lee Kun-hee, had suffered a heart attack the previous year. Prosecutors had demanded a five-year prison sentence for Lee, charging him with irregularities in the course of the merger, which they suspect was aimed at solidifying his managerial control of the firm at a lower cost. A prosecution official on Wednesday voiced skepticism over the recent court decision, saying that prosecutors provided sufficient explanations regarding the charges against Lee and the legality of the evidence presented, but they were not adopte d. "The prosecution plans to decide whether to appeal after closely reviewing how the court decision differs from its argument," the official said. The prosecution has until Tuesday to appeal. Source: Yonhap News Agency
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