PROSECUTORS demanded the arrest of Samsung chief Lee Jae Yong yesterday as the corruption scandal surrounding President Park Geun Hye gathered pace.

Samsung is the most valuable company in South Korea and the arrest of its de facto chief and “crown prince” — Mr Lee is vice-chairman and the son of chairman Lee Kun Hee, who has been in hospital for the past two years — could spell deep trouble for the powerful chaebol (family-run firm).

A statement from special prosecutors team spokesman Lee Kyu Chul said that, while arresting Lee Jae Yong might hurt the economy, “we believed that it was even more important to carry out justice.”