South Korea's fifth-largest conglomerate Lotte Group's vice chairman was found dead Friday, police said, in an apparent suicide that occurred while he was waiting for a summons by prosecutors over corruption allegations involving the group.

    Police found the body of Lee In-won, the group's No. 2 man and close aide of Lotte chairman Shin Dong-bin, on a trail in Yangpyeong, 55 kilometers east of Seoul, after receiving a report from a local resident at around 7:10 a.m. that a man in his 60s was hanging from a tree, Yonhap news agency reported.

    The police said they found Lee's identification on his clothes and are examining the scene, including his car found near the site of the incident.

     In a four-page suicide note found in his car, Lee addressed his family, as well as executives and staff members of the group, while expressing loyalty to group Chairman Shin and denying the group's slush fund allegations.

    After conducting an autopsy at the National Forensic Service, police said Lee's death was the result of hanging, adding that they have not found any evidence of foul play.

Source: QNA