South Korean police raided the Unification Church headquarters, naming its leader a suspect in a bribery case involving politicians from major parties
SEOUL: South Korean police raided the headquarters of the Unification Church on Monday, naming its leader as a suspect in a political bribery case.
The church, known for its mass weddings, is at the centre of a growing scandal over alleged payments to lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties.
Prosecutors also raided the countryside residence of leader Han Hak-ja, who is already on trial for allegedly bribing the former first lady.
The Unification Church told AFP it had “no comment” on the raid.
Its president said last week the church felt “deeply responsible for having caused concern to the public”.
He acknowledged “its failure to detect misconduct within the organization at an early stage”.
President Lee Jae Myung has criticised what he described as “political interference by religion”.
He asked officials to see whether there were grounds to “dissolve religious groups that interfere in politics”.
Members of Lee’s own Democratic Party have been implicated in the scandal.
Oceans minister Chun Jae-soo resigned last week after being accused of receiving 30 million won (RM78,000) in cash and two luxury watches from church officials.
He denied any wrongdoing.
Church leader Han, known to followers as “holy mother”, was arrested in September on charges of bribing South Korea’s former first lady.
The gifts allegedly included a designer Chanel handbag and a Graff diamond necklace.
The 82-year-old leader also faces graft charges over cash payments to a lawmaker linked to disgraced former president Yoon Suk Yeol.
Yoon was arrested this year on insurrection charges, which he denies. – AFP
