Lee Kun-hee, the former Samsung chairman, was found guilty yesterday of evading Won45.6bn (£23m, $45m) in taxes but was allowed to remain free after the judge found his crimes were not serious enough to warrant an immediate jail sentence. Mr Lee, one of South Korea's most powerful men, was jailed for three years, and fined Won110bn. However, the prison sentence was suspended for five years. He was cleared of the more serious charge of breach of trust. Corporate reform campaigners said the ruling showed Korean business leaders continued to get preferential treatment.

Song Jung-a, Seoul