Former Samsung boss Lee Kun-hee appeared Thursday in a Seoul courtroom for the first session of his trial for alleged tax evasion following his stunning resignation from the helm of South Korea's biggest industrial conglomerate.

The 66-year-old Lee looked calm at the start of the proceedings at the Seoul Central District Court.

"I am truly sorry for causing this trouble," Lee said in the packed courtroom. "I will take full responsibility for it and assume a sincere attitude in court."

It was not clear if he or his attorneys would enter a plea during the session.

Lee led the Samsung Group conglomerate for two decades, but stepped down in April following his indictment on tax evasion and other charges.

The indictment followed a high-profile probe by special prosecutors into the family controlled conglomerate, of which Samsung Electronics Co. is the mainstay corporation.

Lee was indicted on charges of evading 112.8 billion won ($110 million) in taxes. He was also indicted on charges of breach of trust.

The tax evasion charge carries a possible sentence of between five years to life in prison, though judges have leeway to decree that no jail time be done.

Other Samsung executives were also indicted on various charges.

Prosecutors, however, dismissed the most explosive claim by the former employee — that Samsung used affiliates to raise a slush fund to bribe influential South Koreans — for lack of evidence.

The Samsung conglomerate, founded by Lee's father, consists of dozens of companies and has interests in businesses including electronics, shipbuilding, construction and life insurance.

Lee's decision to step down was unusual in South Korea, where tycoons have often remained in the boardroom even while standing trial.

Earlier this month, a South Korean appeals court for a second time handed a suspended prison sentence to Hyundai Motor Co. Chairman Chung Mong-koo, leaving him free to continue running the rapidly expanding automaker.

Chung was convicted last year on charges of raising a slush fund from affiliates. He was sentenced to three years in prison, which was suspended for five years on appeal.

The Supreme Court, however, ordered a resentencing after prosecutors appealed a community service aspect of the sentence. The appellate court changed that part of the ruling, while maintaining the suspended prison term.

Source: AP News