A South Korean appeals court cleared Samsung Electronics Chair Lee Jae-yong Monday of stock manipulation and accounting fraud related to the 2015 merger of two of the company's affiliates.

An appellate court on Monday upheld the acquittal of Samsung Electronics Co. Chairman Lee Jae-yong in accounting fraud and other irregularities related to the controversial merger of two

A South Korean appeals court on Monday upheld a lower court’s ruling that acquitted Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong of financial criminal charges over a contentious merger between Samsung affiliates that cemented his grip over the biggest South Korean company.