Unification Church leader sentenced to 2-year prison term in bribery case
Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja arrives at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, Monday, to attend her sentencing on charges of bribery and violating the Political Funds Act. Joint Press Corps
A Seoul district court on Monday sentenced Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja to two years in prison for bribing the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol and other charges.
The Seoul Central District Court handed down the sentence for the 83-year-old after finding her guilty of involvement in giving luxury gifts to former first lady Kim Keon Hee and handing illegal funds to a former lawmaker.
Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team had sought a 13-year prison term for Han.
The court convicted Han of violating the anti-graft law for her involvement in giving a luxury necklace and a Chanel bag to Kim while requesting favors for the church through an intermediary in July 2022.
It also found her guilty of colluding with former church officials to give 100 million won ($66,400) to then Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) in January 2022.
Min's team alleged that Han sought Kweon's help in gaining favors for the church in the event of Yoon's election as president in March that year. Yoon, then candidate of the PPP, went on to win the election.
The court also convicted the religious group leader and other former church officials of making illegal political donations worth 144 million won using church funds in March 2022.
It, however, acquitted Han of embezzlement charges linked to the donations.
The court dismissed charges of Han embezzling 787 million won worth of church funds to deliver campaign funds to politicians in Nepal and Senegal between May and July 2022, ruling the charges fell outside the special counsel's investigation mandate.