Heir to Samsung empire being tried for graft; three horses hold the key

South Korea's top court has ordered the retrial of the Samsung Electronics vice-chairman over bribery charges, reviving uncertainty around the country's most important company

South Korea’s highest court stunned the nation when it ordered billionaire Samsung heir Jay Y Lee to face trial once more for corruption. And it all came down to three horses. 

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the retrial of the Samsung Electronics Co vice chairman over bribery charges, reviving uncertainty around the country’s most important company just as it’s navigating global trade turmoil. The court also sent for retrial the case of former president Park Geun-hye, the alleged beneficiary of that bribery. The matter connecting them is a gift of three equines, which Korea’s most senior judges have now ruled