South Korean prosecutors seek arrest of ‘Moonies’ leader in bribery probe | Courts News

Unification Church chief accused of bribing former first woman whose husband Yoon Suk-yeol fell from grace final 12 months.

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 costs got here amid a drive to research Kim and her husband, former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who was compelled from workplace final 12 months after imposing martial regulation.

“We’ve requested an arrest warrant for Han earlier as we speak,” prosecutor Park Sang-jin mentioned. “The costs in opposition to her embody violation of political funds act, anti-graft regulation, incitement to destroy proof and embezzlement.”

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

The Unification Church criticised the investigators’ try to 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 dying 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 grew to become president that 12 months.

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

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

Yoon was impeached and removed from office 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 danger he might tamper with proof.

Han, who was questioned for practically 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 evaluation the validity of Park’s arrest warrant request for Han early subsequent week.