Seoul  - Former Samsung boss Lee Kun-hee appeared in court in the South Korean capital Seoul on Thursday on charges of tax evasion.

Lee, 66, who led the Samsung Group conglomerate for 20 years, resigned his post in April, following his indictment for tax evasion and breach of trust.

The charges followed a high-profile investigation by prosecutors into the family-controlled conglomerate, of which Samsung Electronics is the chief corporation.

Lee was indicted on charges of evading 110 million dollars' worth of taxes.

Lee apologized for having caused "trouble" and promised to take "full responsibility for" what had happened.

The tax evasion charges could lead to a sentence of five years in prison.

Samsung had also been accused of regularly bribing public officials, but the team of investigators were unable to prove those accusations in their three-month inquiry.

Nine other top Samsung managers, including vice chairman Lee Hak Soo, were indicted for their alleged roles in illegal practices by the company.

The breach of trust charge stemmed from its accusations that Lee played an important role in the illegal transfer of power at Samsung to his only son, Lee Jae Yong.

The inquiry was launched after one of Samsung's former attorneys, Kim Yong Chul, accused the company of establishing bank accounts amounting to 200 billion won in the names of its managers and other employees and using the money it deposited in them to bribe public officials. (dpa)