London: The former chairman of Samsung Electronics who was convicted of tax evasion and later pardoned by South Korea's president has returned to lead the company after an absence of nearly two years.
Lee Kun-hee, 68, was indicted in April 2008 and resigned from his post before being found guilty, fined and given a suspended three-year prison sentence. Lee, who was also convicted of breach of trust, fought on appeal to overturn the convictions but failed.
Towards the end of last year the billionaire businessman received a special amnesty from President Lee Myung-bak, fuelling speculation that he would return to Samsung.
The pardon was given to allow the tycoon, who is a member of the International Olympic Committee, to boost South Korea's efforts to host the Winter Olympics. The country has already failed twice in its attempt to bring them to Pyeongchang, a mountain resort east of Seoul.
The decision to recall Lee as chairman came at a meeting today of a committee of presidents of various Samsung businesses.
Lee, who is South Korea's richest person according to Forbes Asia, is the son of the founder of the Samsung Group, a sprawling conglomerate made up of dozens of companies.
— Guardian News &Media Ltd
