'이재용 수사심의위' 개최 여부 오늘 결론

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?
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.
Jang Tae-hyun has the details.
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.
They are scheduled to meet on Thursday.
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.
This system of review was implemented two years ago to enhance the neutrality and fairness of the prosecution's probes.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office plans to establish a deliberation committee to internally discuss the request.
Prosecutors and Lee's lawyers cannot be at the discussion, but have to submit a 30-page position statement.
Fifteen regular people were selected as the committee members to look into the validity of the investigation and the indictment procedures.
The result will come out later on Thursday.
Even though the decision is not legally binding, experts say this will influence the prosecutors' intent to indict Lee to some degree.
In the meantime, a separate trial is being held for Lee Jae-yong, about bribing a confidante of former President Park Geun-hye.
His sentence was halved from the initial five years, but the case has been sent back to the lower court for retrial.
Jang Tae-hyun, Arirang News