A special counsel team investigating former first lady Kim Keon Hee’s alleged ties to the Unification Church indicted the church’s leader, Han Hak-ja, on Friday for multiple charges, including illegal political donations.
The special counsel team — led by Min Joong-ki — indicted Han on four suspected offenses, including subornation of destroying evidence, occupational embezzlement and violating the Political Funds Act as well as the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.
Han, who was in pretrial detention since Sept. 23, was charged alongside a church official, identified as Jeong, who was indicted without detention.
The special counsel team previously summoned Han for questioning three times. Han, citing health concerns, failed to appear for all three sessions, prompting prosecutors to proceed with an indictment without additional questioning.
According to the special counsel team, both Han and Jeong are accused of conspiring with another church official to deliver 100 million won ($70,400) to the former conservative party's floor leader, Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, in 2022, in pursuit of political backing by the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration.
Additionally, Han is suspected of allegedly gifting a high-end necklace and a Chanel bag to the former first lady and ordering a church official to destroy evidence related to her alleged overseas gambling ahead of a police investigation.
Han continues to deny such charges, however, claiming she never ordered or approved the delivery of illegal funds or gifts, and that she never ordered the church official to destroy evidence.
lee.jungjoo@heraldcorp.com
