Seoul: The Supreme Court on Thursday finalized the acquittal of Samsung Electronics Co. Chairman Lee Jae-yong in a controversial merger case dating back to 2015. The decision marks the end of a lengthy legal battle surrounding the merger of two Samsung affiliates, Cheil Industries Inc. and Samsung C and T Corp., which was considered pivotal for Lee's succession within the family-controlled conglomerate.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the legal proceedings began when Lee was indicted nearly five years ago on multiple charges, including unfair trading, stock price manipulation, and accounting fraud. The prosecutors contended that the merger, alongside other alleged irregularities, was orchestrated to enable Lee to reinforce his control over Samsung at a minimal cost, especially after his father, Lee Kun-hee, suffered a heart attack in 2014.

In previous trials, Lee was acquitted of all charges, with the number of charges escalating from 19 in the first trial to 23 in the second trial after additional allegations were introduced. The Supreme Court's recent decision to dismiss the prosecution's appeal reaffirms the initial rulings, concluding that no errors were found in the original judgments.

The court also upheld the acquittals of 13 other individuals associated with the case, including Choi Gee-sung, the former head of Samsung's now-defunct control tower, the Future Strategy Office. The resolution of this high-profile case is expected to have significant implications for Samsung's leadership and its future strategic direction.