Ex-Samsung Electronics executive charged with leaking trade secrets

[NEWS1]

A former Samsung Electronics executive, 65, has been charged with leaking trade secrets from the company in an attempt to build a copycat chip factory in China.

The 65-year-old tried to build a chip factory in China, just 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) away from Samsung Electronics' manufacturing plant in Xian, China, using the data the former executive allegedly stole, according to the prosecution.

The suspect is accused of stealing Samsung Electronics' confidential information, including the chip factory's basic engineering data and the plant layout from 2018 to 2019.

Six other people, including an ex-employee at one of Samsung Electronics suppliers, have also been prosecuted without detention.

"We are currently cooperating with the prosecutors and the investigation," a Samsung Electronics spokesperson said.

BY JIN EUN-SOO [jin.eunsoo@joongang.co.kr]