An ex-Samsung manager has admitted that he leaked early information about the iPad to representatives from an "expert network" firm and a hedge fund.

Suk-Joo Hwang, a 14-year employee of Samsung testified in a Federal court on Wednesday during the insider trading trial of Primary Global Research executive James Fleishman. He admitted to having lunch with Fleishman and a hedge fund manager he identified as "Greg" and gave them confidential information about Samsung's shipment of liquid crystal display screens to Apple for the iPad. The meeting was four months before the iPad made its debut in the U.S.

Samsung was originally the suppliers for the first generation iPad.

"One particular thing I remember vividly was that I talked about the shipment numbers of Apple, it was about iPad," he said. "This is in December 2009, before it came out with the tablet PC, they didn't know the name then, so I talked to them about the tablet shipment estimates in that meeting."

Fleishman is facing charges of conspiracy for facilitating a scheme in which employees of public companies supplied classified information to clients of Primary Global. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and faces 25 years in prison if convicted.

Hwang testified that Fleishman and the fund manager were "very excited" about the information he provided.

"In fact, I said, 'Please, just keep this to yourself,'" Hwang said while reenacting the scene. "I remember after I said this, James, he was nodding his head."

He added that he became concerned after revealing the information because he thought they had been overheard by an Apple employee.

"After I said it, I looked around," he said. "The first thing I thought was 'Wow, I said it too loud' and then I really freaked out."

Hwang also admitted that he had earned $38,000 for his work as a consultant but that he grew worried about being discovered as a leak after Samsung lost a supply contract with Apple.

"I thought, 'Oh that guy was an Apple guy and they found out,'" Hwang said. "I was scared."

He was contacted by the FBI last October in connection with the insider trading probe. Hwang was granted immunity as long as he doesn't commit perjury. Hwang was fired by Samsung in June.

Chris Goodhart, a Samsung spokeswoman in San Jose, California, declined to comment on Hwang's testimony. Steve Dowling, a spokesman for the Cupertino, California-based Apple, also declined to comment.