SEOUL – South Korean prosecutors raided Samsung Electronics’ offices on Tuesday (Nov 8), a prosecution official said, as part of a probe over a political scandal involving President Park Geun Hye and a friend who is alleged to have exerted improper influence in state affairs.
The official declined to elaborate further. Samsung Electronics did not immediately comment.
Yonhap news agency reported that the search is related to whether Samsung may have improperly provided financial assistance to a daughter of Ms Park’s longtime friend Choi Soon Sil.
Prosecutors have been investigating an allegation that Samsung provided 2.8 million euros (S$4.3 million) to a company co-owned by Ms Choi and her daughter, who was previously a member of the South Korean national equestrian team.
Ms Park’s presidency has been rocked by the scandal involving Ms Choi, who is alleged to have used her closeness to the President to meddle in state affairs and wield influence in the sports and cultural communities.
Ms Park has publicly apologised twice for the scandal but her approval rating has plunged to 5 per cent, according to a Gallup poll released on Friday, the lowest since such polling began in 1988.
