Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong denied bribery allegations at an appeal hearing on Thursday.
 
During the hearing at the Seoul High Court, Lee's defense attorneys claimed that he did not know about the relations between former President Park Geun-hye and her friend Choi Soon-sil before his second one-on-one meeting with the president on July 25th in 2015. 
 
The prosecution is claiming that Lee was aware of the relations since his first meeting with Park on September 15th in 2014 and offered bribes and supported Choi's daughter's equestrian training to receive favors from the Park government regarding Samsung's leadership transfer. 
 
Lee's attorneys argued that Samsung sponsored Choi's daughter's equestrian training, but did not expect any favors.  
 
Lee's defense team also dismissed former Vice Culture Minister Kim Chong's claim that Samsung knew about Choi and her daughter and provided bribes, saying Kim's testimony has no credibility.