Goh Dong-ahn, center, former No. 2 leader of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, appears at the Seoul Central District Court, Wednesday, for his arrest warrant hearing. Joint Press Corps
A Seoul court on Wednesday held arrest warrant hearings for three former senior officials of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a nonmainstream religious sect, over suspicions they forced followers to join the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) between 2021 and 2024.
The hearings for Goh Dong-ahn, former No. 2 leader of Shincheonji, and two other former officials took place at the Seoul Central District Court after a joint prosecution and police team filed for their arrest warrants Friday.
The court is expected to have its decision as early as later Wednesday.
The three are accused of violating the Political Parties Act that bans forcing people to join or quit political parties.
