A South Korean special prosecutor's office on Wednesday, January 11 said it had summoned Samsung Group [SAGR.UL] leader Jay Y. Lee as a suspect in a widening influence-peddling scandal involving President Park Geun-hye, Reuters reports.

Prosecutors have been checking whether Samsung's support for a business and foundations backed by Park's friend, Choi Soon-sil, was connected to a 2015 decision by the National Pension Service to back a controversial merger of two Samsung Group affiliates.

Lee Kyu-chul, spokesman for the special prosecution team, told a briefing Lee was being summoned on Thursday morning over suspicions including bribery, but did not elaborate. Samsung Group could not be immediately reached for comment.