South Korean prosecutors search arrest of ‘Moonies’ chief in bribery probe | Courts Information

Unification Church chief accused of bribing former first woman whose husband Yoon Suk-yeol fell from grace final yr.

South Korean prosecutors have requested an arrest warrant for Han Hak-ja, chief of the Unification Church, over bribery allegations linked to a former first woman.

The request on Thursday got here a day after Han was questioned over her alleged function in bribing former first woman Kim Keon-hee and conservative lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong.

The fees got here amid a drive to analyze Kim and her husband, former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who was pressured from workplace final yr after imposing martial legislation.

“Now we have requested an arrest warrant for Han earlier immediately,” prosecutor Park Sang-jin mentioned. “The fees in opposition to her embody violation of political funds act, anti-graft legislation, incitement to destroy proof and embezzlement.”

“We thought of the chance of Han tampering with proof to be very excessive, which led us to hunt the warrant.”

The Unification Church criticised the investigators’ try and arrest Han, insisting she doesn’t pose a flight danger or a risk of destroying proof and has cooperated with the investigation regardless of well being issues.

Based in 1954 by Han’s late husband, the Unification Church has lengthy been the topic of controversy and criticism.

Retaining a cult-like tradition, followers are referred to disparagingly as “Moonies”. The church’s teachings are centred on Moon’s function because the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and it carries out mass weddings.

The church’s attain extends far past faith, spanning companies from media and tourism to meals distribution. Han assumed management after Moon’s loss of life in 2012.

Han is suspected of ordering the supply of luxurious items, together with a designer purse and diamond necklace, to Kim in 2022 to curry favour along with her husband, who turned president that yr.

Kim was arrested and indicted final month on costs of bribery and inventory market manipulation. Her attorneys deny the allegations. In the meantime, her husband – additionally in custody – is standing trial over his short-lived declaration of martial legislation in December.

The couple fell from grace after Yoon’s martial legislation declaration briefly suspended civilian rule earlier than it was overturned by opposition lawmakers.

Yoon was impeached and faraway from workplace in April over the try.

Han additionally faces allegations of bribing Kweon with 100 million received ($72,000).

A Seoul courtroom issued an arrest warrant on Tuesday for Kweon, citing the chance he may tamper with proof.

Han, who was questioned for almost 10 hours on Wednesday, denied claims she directed the alleged bribes, pinning the blame on a former church official who has since been arrested.

A Seoul courtroom is anticipated to overview the validity of Park’s arrest warrant request for Han early subsequent week.