The headquarters of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus / Newsis
A Seoul court on Wednesday issued arrest warrants 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 earlier in the day after a joint prosecution and police team filed for their arrest warrants Friday.
The court granted the warrants following the hearing, citing concerns that the suspects could destroy evidence and flee.
The three are accused of violating the Political Parties Act that bans forcing people to join or quit political parties.
