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Samsung raided in South Korean political scandal

The Galaxy Note 7 manufacturer has been dragged into a scandal involving South Korea's President Park Geun-hye.

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Richard Trenholm
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Richard Trenholm Former Movie and TV Senior Editor
Richard Trenholm was CNET's film and TV editor, covering the big screen, small screen and streaming. A member of the Film Critic's Circle, he's covered technology and culture from London's tech scene to Europe's refugee camps to the Sundance film festival.
Expertise Films, TV, Movies, Television, Technology
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After the Note 7 recall and a profit hit there's more bad news for Samsung.

 Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images

Samsung has been raided by investigators as the company is dragged into a political scandal involving South Korea's president.

President Park Geun-hye is reported to have allowed long-time confidante Choi Soon-sil to exploit their friendship for financial gain. Samsung is alleged to have donated $3.1m to a company co-owned by Choi Soon-sil, who was arrested on 3 November, and her daughter.

The investigation is another headache for Samsung following the disastrous launch of the Galaxy Note 7, a recall of a washing machine and a drop in profits. Samsung this week issued an open letter apologising for the Note 7's tendency to overheat.

"Prosecutors visited our office in Seoul yesterday," a Samsung spokesperson told CNET. "We have no further comment".