Reuters

 

 

The leader of the controversial Unification Church has been sentenced to two years in prison for bribing South Korea's former first lady and other political funding offences.

A court found that Han Hak-ja's church gave Kim Keon Hee, the wife of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace, together worth 80 million won ($57,900; £42,500).

Earlier this year, Kim was sentenced to 20 months in jail for accepting bribes from the church.

Han, the 83-year-old widow of the Unification Church's founder Sun Myung Moon, had repeatedly denied the allegations, calling them "false".

A special counsel team appointed to the case said Kim received the luxury products from the church between April and July 2022, in exchange for business and political favours.

The prosecutors said the probe was the first time the authorities have confirmed the church's attempt at buying influence in politics, and released photos of $19m (£14m) worth of cash found in Han's personal safe.

South Korea's former first lady admitted to receiving Chanel bags, but said she later returned them without using them.

Kim made a public apology when she appeared for questioning last August: "I am truly sorry that a nobody like me has caused concern to the people."

The Unification Church, known formally as The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, was founded in South Korea in the 1950s by Sun Myung Moon, who proclaimed himself the messiah.

The church is probably best known for the mass weddings where thousands of couples were married by Han and her late husband and founder Sun Myung Moon in a stadium.

Critics have described the group as "cult-like". Lawyers have accused it of coercing devotees, known colloquially as "Moonies" after its founder, to donate large sums of money. "Moonies" is a term used by critics that many church members find offensive.

The Unification Church had come under the spotlight in Japan after the assassination of the country's former leader Shinzo Abe. The alleged assassin blamed the group for bankrupting his family and held a grievance against Abe for allegedly promoting it.

The church has boasted extensive links to politicians in Seoul, Tokyo, and even in Washington. Various politicians sent video message to its 2021 event congratulating the church's new think tank.

The list included US President Donald Trump, former US Vice-President Mike Pence, Shinzo Abe, as well as the mayors of Seoul and Busan.

The group is banned in parts of the world, including Singapore. In Japan, it has been ordered to dissolve.

 

SOURCE/AUTHOR : BBC NEWS/Jake Kwon, Seoul correspondent, in Seoul, and Fan Wang