The head of South Korea’s Unification Church has refuted allegations of directing bribes to a former First Lady and a close political aide of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, amid a growing criminal investigation involving Yoon and his wife.
Special prosecutors indicted former First Lady Kim Keon Hee for bribery and other charges on Friday, amid a widening probe into the country’s martial law crisis and scandals involving the once powerful couple.
Chanel Bags, Diamond Necklace
Kim is also accused of receiving bribes worth 80 million won ($57,631) that include two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace from an official at the Unification Church in return for using her influence to help its business interests.
Kweon Seong-dong, a veteran politician close to former President Yoon, has been investigated over allegations that he received illicit political funds from the church official. Kweon has denied the allegations.
‘False Information’
“False information is being spread that our church provided illegal political funds under my directive,” Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja said in a statement on Sunday read by an announcer next to her.
“I take this opportunity to state this clearly: I have never directed any illegal political favours or financial transactions,” she said in her first direct address related to the investigation.
Lawyers Deny Allegations
Kim’s lawyers have also denied the allegations against her, including over her receiving gifts.
The official from the church that prosecutors say was behind the bribery has been arrested and indicted on charges, including violating anti-graft laws.
The Unification Church, formally called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, said previously it was “deeply regrettable” that the church failed to prevent the misconduct of a former senior official, but denied any involvement in the case.
Separate Investigations
Both Yoon and Kim have been arrested and are in jail, with Yoon already undergoing trial on charges that include insurrection following his ouster in April over a botched bid to impose martial law in December.
The couple are under separate investigations by special prosecutors appointed after Yoon’s removal from office and President Lee Jae Myung took office.
($1 = 1,388.1500 won)
(With inputs from Reuters)
