Jakarta, hitclubapk3 Indonesia
—
Police
South Korea
raided the headquarters
Unification Church
which is similar to a sect and named its leader as a suspect in the bribery case of a number of prominent politicians, on Monday (15/12).
The church is widely known for its practice of mass weddings, and is at the center of a growing scandal in South Korea over alleged donations to lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties.
Prosecutors raided the church’s headquarters in Seoul on Monday (15/12), as well as the luxury country residence of the leader, Han Hak Ja, who has been tried on suspicion of offering bribes to the former first lady.
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The Unification Church told AFP it had “no comment” on the raid.
However, the president of the Unification Church said last week that it felt “deeply responsible for causing concern in society.”
He also admitted there was a “failure to detect violations within the organization at an early stage.”
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung also condemned what he described as “religious interference in politics”, without directly naming the church.
He also asked officials to examine whether there was any reason to “disband religious groups that interfere in politics.”
Previously, a number of members of Lee’s Democratic Party themselves were also involved in the scandal.
Maritime Minister Chun Jae-soo resigned last week after being accused of receiving 30 million won (around Rp. 340 million) in cash and two luxury watches from the church between 2018 and 2020. But he denied the accusations.
Church leader Han, known as the “holy mother” to her followers, was arrested in September on charges of bribing South Korea’s former first lady with gifts, including a Chanel handbag and a Graff diamond necklace.
The 82-year-old leader also faces corruption charges related to giving cash to a lawmaker linked to former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol, whose reputation is now tarnished.
Yoon was arrested this year on charges of rebellion, which he denies.
(rnp/dna)
