Special counsel seeks arrest warrant for shaman in bribery probe against ex-first lady
Jeon Seong-bae, center, a shaman accused of bribery in connection with former first lady Kim Keon Hee, appears for questioning at the special counsel team's office in Seoul, Monday. Joint Press Corps
A special counsel team on Tuesday filed for a court warrant to arrest a shaman at the center of a snowballing bribery and influence-peddling scandal involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee, officials said.
Special Counsel Min Joong-ki's team filed the request for the writ against Jeon Seong-bae on charges of bribery and violation of laws related to political funds, Assistant Special Prosecutor Park Sang-jin said in a media briefing.
Park said Jeon poses a high risk of fleeing or destroying evidence, based on the inconsistency in the statements he gave during the questioning.
Jeon stands accused of giving Kim a diamond necklace and Chanel bags on behalf of the Unification Church between April and August 2022. Jeon allegedly delivered requests for business favors from the church along with the luxury gifts.
While admitting to having received such requests from the church, Jeon denied the bribery allegation, claiming he lost the necklace and luxury bags before he could deliver them to the former first lady.
Jeon is also suspected of having received money from prospective candidates ahead of the June 2022 general elections in return for conveying their requests for nomination favors to Kim.
The special counsel team is looking into allegations that Jeon and a Unification Church official, surnamed Yoon, tried to get church members to join the People Power Party to interfere in its leadership race in 2023 in favor of Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, who's known for his close ties to former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Yoon, the church official, has been indicted for allegedly delivering the gift items to Jeon in 2022.