South Korea’s Supreme Court is expected to issue its final ruling on Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong on July 17, concluding a high-profile legal battle tied to a controversial 2015 merger.

Lee was acquitted in both lower and appellate courts of charges including unfair trading, stock manipulation, and accounting fraud in connection with the merger of Samsung affiliates Cheil Industries Inc. and Samsung C&T. His initial indictment came in September 2020.

A lower court cleared him of all 19 charges in February 2024, a decision upheld earlier this year by an appellate panel. Prosecutors have since appealed to the Supreme Court, asserting the merger and related actions were strategically aimed at consolidating Lee’s control over the conglomerate.

The final verdict will come nearly five years after Lee was first brought to trial.

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