The Supreme Court acquitted Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong of all charges related to the 2015 merger of two Samsung affiliates.

Samsung Electronics Chair Lee Jae-yong was acquitted by South Korea’s Supreme Court on Thursday, ending a five-year legal battle over charges related to a 2015 merger between Samsung affiliates that prosecutors alleged was designed to cement his control over the country’s largest conglomerate.

Samsung boss Lee Jae-yong has been cleared by South Korea's top court of fraud charges, concluding a years-long legal battle over his role in a 2015 merger deal. Lee, the grandson of Samsung's founder and the de facto head of the company since 2014, had been accused of using stock and accounting fraud to try to gain control of the firm.