Unification Church leader arrested in South Korea over bribery allegations linked to former first lady

"The 82-year-old leader of the Unification Church was arrested in South Korea early Tuesday as investigators probe allegations that the church bribed the wife of jailed former president Yoon Suk Yeol and a conservative lawmaker. Han Hak-ja, the widow of the church's South Korean founder, Sun Myung Moon, has denied allegations that she directed church officials to bribe Yoon's wife, Kim Keon Hee, and the lawmaker."

"The Seoul central district court approved investigators' request for an arrest warrant for Han, saying she posed a risk of destroying evidence. A self-proclaimed messiah who preached new interpretations of the Bible and conservative family values, founder Moon built the Unification Church into an international movement with millions of followers and extensive business interests. The church is widely known for mass weddings, pairing thousands of couples who often are from different countries."

"After an hours-long hearing, the court issued its decision in the early hours of Tuesday as Han awaited the verdict at a detention centre near Seoul, where she will now be held. The Unification Church had criticised investigators' attempts to arrest Han, noting that she appeared for questioning last week while still recovering from a heart procedure earlier this month, and accused them of disrespecting an internationally respected religious leader."

Han Hak-ja was arrested in Seoul after investigators alleged that the Unification Church bribed the wife of jailed former president Yoon Suk Yeol and a conservative lawmaker. Han denied directing church officials to pay Kim Keon Hee and the lawmaker. The Seoul central district court approved an arrest warrant, citing a risk that Han could destroy evidence. Founder Sun Myung Moon built the Unification Church into an international movement known for mass weddings and extensive business interests. Han was held at a detention centre near Seoul after an hours-long hearing. The church criticised the arrest as disrespectful and noted Han’s recent heart procedure. Kim and the arrested lawmaker have denied the allegations.

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