Special prosecutors in Seoul have requested an arrest warrant for the heir-apparent of the Samsung group as a corruption scandal that has led to the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye ensnares one of South Korea’s most powerful corporate figures.

Lee Jae-yong, vice-chairman of Samsung Electronics and de facto head of South Korea’s largest conglomerate, is facing charges of bribery, embezzlement and perjury, according to prosecutors who questioned him in a marathon 22-hour interrogation late last week.

A court will decide tomorrow whether to issue the warrant. If granted, Mr Lee would be detained while prosecutors investigated further. “While the current economic situation is important, we view that upholding justice takes precedence,” said Lee Kyu-chul, for the prosecutors. The company said it was “difficult to agree with the special prosecutor’s decision, because Samsung did not make contributions in order to receive favours”.