A South Korean court has sentenced billionaire Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong to five years in prison, reports said Friday.The Seoul Central District Court convicted Lee, 49, the vice-chairman of Samsung Electronics, the world's largest smartphone maker, of offenses related to the corruption scandal that brought down ousted president Park Geun-Hye.

His lawyer said Friday the defense team will appeal the decision.

"We are confident the ruling will be overturned," lawyer Song Wu-cheol told reporters after the ruling by the Seoul Central District Court.