Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Former Vice President in Samsung Electronics Patent Leak Case

Court: "There is a risk of evidence destruction"

The prosecution secured the custody of a former Samsung Electronics vice president suspected of leaking confidential information after reapplying for an arrest warrant.

Former Samsung Electronics Vice President (IP Center Head) Ahn Seung-ho, who is accused of conspiring with internal Samsung Electronics employees to steal important confidential documents, is attending a pre-arrest detention hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 30th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 30th, Nam Cheon-gyu, the chief judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, held a warrant hearing and issued arrest warrants for Lee Mo, former head of the patent application group at Samsung Display, who is accused of breach of duty, and Ahn Seung-ho, former vice president of Samsung Electronics (head of the IP Center), who is charged with violation of the Act on the Prevention of Unfair Competition and Protection of Trade Secrets (leaking trade secrets), citing "concerns over evidence destruction."

Ahn is accused of establishing a patent management company after resigning, conspiring with internal Samsung Electronics employees to leak confidential materials, and then using them in lawsuits against Samsung Electronics through ‘Synergy IP,’ where he serves as CEO.

Synergy IP filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung Electronics in the United States related to wireless earphones and voice recognition. On the 23rd, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, which handled the trial, ruled that the lawsuit involving Ahn and others was filed through serious illegal acts and unfair methods, dismissing the patent infringement claims.

Additionally, Lee is accused of receiving approximately 600 million KRW over several years as compensation for being selected as an in-house patent application agent for Samsung Display from patent firms in Korea, the United States, and China.