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

Unification Church person accused of bribing erstwhile archetypal woman whose hubby Yoon Suk-yeol fell from grace past year.

South Korean prosecutors person requested an apprehension warrant for Han Hak-ja, person of the Unification Church, implicit bribery allegations linked to a erstwhile archetypal lady.

The petition connected Thursday came a time aft Han was questioned implicit her alleged relation successful bribing erstwhile archetypal woman Kim Keon-hee and blimpish lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong.

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The charges came amid a thrust to analyse Kim and her husband, former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who was forced from bureau past twelvemonth aft imposing martial law.

“We person requested an apprehension warrant for Han earlier today,” authoritative Park Sang-jin said. “The charges against her see usurpation of governmental funds act, anti-graft law, incitement to destruct grounds and embezzlement.”

“We considered the hazard of Han tampering with grounds to beryllium precise high, which led america to question the warrant.”

The Unification Church criticised the investigators’ effort to apprehension Han, insisting she does not airs a formation hazard oregon a menace of destroying grounds and has cooperated with the probe contempt wellness problems.

The Reverend Moon Sun-myung, the laminitis of the Unification Church, drinks a toast with his household members during his 91st day enactment successful 2011 (File: Reuters)

Founded successful 1954 by Han’s precocious husband, the Unification Church has agelong been the taxable of contention and criticism.

Retaining a cult-like culture, followers are referred to disparagingly arsenic “Moonies”. The church’s teachings are centred connected Moon’s relation arsenic the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and it carries retired wide weddings.

The church’s scope extends acold beyond religion, spanning businesses from media and tourism to nutrient distribution. Han assumed enactment aft Moon’s decease successful 2012.

Han is suspected of ordering the transportation of luxury gifts, including a decorator handbag and diamond necklace, to Kim successful 2022 to curry favour with her husband, who became president that year.

Kim was arrested and indicted past month connected charges of bribery and banal marketplace manipulation. Her lawyers contradict the allegations. Meanwhile, her hubby – also successful custody – is lasting proceedings implicit his short-lived declaration of martial instrumentality successful December.

The mates fell from grace aft Yoon’s martial instrumentality declaration concisely suspended civilian regularisation earlier it was overturned by absorption lawmakers.

Yoon was impeached and removed from office successful April implicit the attempt.

Han besides faces allegations of bribing Kweon with 100 cardinal won ($72,000).

A Seoul tribunal issued an apprehension warrant connected Tuesday for Kweon, citing the hazard helium could tamper with evidence.

Han, who was questioned for astir 10 hours connected Wednesday, denied claims she directed the alleged bribes, pinning the blasted connected a erstwhile religion authoritative who has since been arrested.

A Seoul tribunal is expected to reappraisal the validity of Park’s apprehension warrant petition for Han aboriginal adjacent week.