Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong fined for drug use

Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong was fined 70 million won ($60,000) on Tuesday for illegally using the anesthetic propofol 41 times between 2015 and 2020.

The Seoul Central District Court also ordered an additional forfeiture of 17 million won ($14,600) as it convicted Lee, who is worth an estimated $10.2 billion, of violations of the Narcotics Control Act. 

Propofol, a sedative, is widely used in common medical procedures including endoscopies and colonoscopies as well as in laser procedures at skincare clinics. Prosecutors have accused Lee of taking propofol for non-medical purposes, but his lawyers said he took the drug in line with a doctor's prescription.