Former Samsung leader spared jail term

SEOUL, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- A South Korean appeals court tossed out a breach of trust charge against former Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee Friday, sparing him a prison term.

On a charge stemming from Lee's transfer of company holdings to his son, Jae-yong, Lee "cannot be held accountable for breach of trust," Judge Seo Ki-seog said, Yonhap news service reported.

The Seoul High Court, however, upheld Lee's tax evasion verdict, ordering him to pay a $79 million fine and affirming the lower court's suspended three-year prison sentence.

Lee was charged with evading $80 million in taxes by hiding his wealth in various stock accounts between 2000 and 2006, the news service said.