The prosecution has summoned Chung Hyun-ho, CEO of Samsung Electronics' business support TF, to investigate his possible involvement in the merger of Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries.
The economic crime and criminal division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office summoned Chung on Feb. 14 to question him on the overall decision-making process of the group's leadership during the 2015 merger between the two Samsung Group affiliates.
It is the first time that Chung has been summoned by prosecutors over the Samsung merger scandal. Chung worked as head of the management diagnosis team and personnel support team at the former Samsung Future Strategy Office.
He is classified as one of the closest aides to Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics while studying at Harvard University in the 1990s.
Chung, who was summoned by prosecutors in June last year over Samsung BioLogics’ destruction of evidence, appeared before prosecutors to face questioning again for the first time in about six months.
Prosecutors suspect that Chung was involved in the overall restructuring of the governance structure for Lee's management succession while working at the former Samsung Future Strategy Office.
The investigation will be focused to find out whether Samsung C&T intentionally lowered the company's value to set a favorable merger ratio for Cheil Industries, where Lee holds a stake, during the 2015 merger between Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries.
Some observers say that an investigation into Vice Chairman Lee is also imminent as the group's leaders have been questioned by prosecutors in succession.
