SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — The heir to the Samsung business empire Lee Jae-Yong was convicted Friday of all five charges at his trial in connection with the scandal that brought down president Park Geun-Hye.

Prosecutors had demanded a 12-year sentence, but Lee was jailed for five years.

Four other former top Samsung executives were also found guilty, with two given terms of up to four years and the other pair receiving suspended sentences.

– Bribery –

Prosecutors argued Lee paid or promised to pay a total of 43.3 billion won ($38.4 million) in return for actions including government support for the scion’s hereditary succession at the Samsung group.

The court ruled that 7.3 billion won paid for the overseas equestrian training of the daughter of Park’s long-time friend Choi Soon-Sil, and another 1.6 billion won funnelled to Choi’s niece, constituted bribes.

It disregarded 12.4 billion won that was promised but not paid.

And for 22 billion won in donations to foundations allegedly controlled by Choi, the court said Lee was not guilty as Samsung had no alternative but to comply with Park’s browbeating.

In his defence, Lee’s lawyers said Samsung was compelled by Park to support the national equestrian team, which happened to include Choi’s daughter, and to make the donations to support the country’s cultural and sports development.

They said there is no material evidence to prove the money changed hands in return for government favours, asserting the bribery charge was based on “groundless assumptions”.

– Embezzlement, money laundering and transfers –

Three of the other charges were linked to the bribery count.

The court ruled that the 7.3 billion won paid for the equestrian training was company money diverted by Lee, amounting to embezzlement.

The funds were laundered and transferred illegally overseas to a paper company controlled by Choi, it found.

– Perjury of parliament –

At a parliamentary hearing in December, Lee told lawmakers said he had not been informed of Samsung’s bankrolling of the daughter’s equestrian training, and that he was unaware of the Chois.

The statements constituted perjury, the court said.