In a surprise ruling, Jay Y. Lee was acquitted of financial crimes

Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong found not guilty of stock manipulation and accounting fraud. Lee was accused of a controversial merger in 2015 of two Samsung affiliates. Samsung chief was accused on charges related to the merger of two of his companies. Lee's trial is expected to last for more than a year.

Samsung chief Jay Y. Lee found not guilty in 2015 merger case. Lee cleared in South Korea of accounting fraud and stock manipulation charges in a case about a 2015 merger. Lee was cleared in the South Korean court of stock manipulation and accounting fraud charges in the case. Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee was also cleared in a separate case about the 2015 merger with Samsung Electronics.