The Samsung vice chairman convicted of corruption will begin an appeal against his five-year prison sentence.

Jay Y. Lee, who is 49 and heir to the family that owns the giant Samsung conglomerate, was found guilty last month of bribing South Korea's former president, Park Geun-hye, to help him increase his power over the company.

Lee has replaced his attorney for the appeal, which begins with a hearing today that organises witnesses and evidence. The appeal trial is set to begin in mid-October.

The scandal has seen a number of Samsung and South Korean government figures face corruption charges.