Samsung Chairman Indicted on Tax Charges

The chairman of Samsung Group, Lee Kun-hee, was indicted Thursday on charges of evading taxes on billions of dollars that he had hidden in stock accounts under the names of his aides, the special counsel investigating corruption at South Korea's largest conglomerate announced.

Mr. Lee also faces criminal charges of breach of trust, which stemmed from something he had denied for years: his involvement in arranging for Samsung subsidiaries to sell stocks to his son, Jae Yong, at unfairly low prices to help his heir take over management control of the business empire.

Nine other Samsung executives were indicted on similar charges for their roles in the alleged corruption schemes.

None of the Samsung executives were arrested. But their indictment dealt a further blow to the image of Samsung and Mr. Lee's family, which among South Koreans is both admired for building the conglomerate into South Korea's best-known global brand and hated for the recurring corruption scandals there.