A joint prosecution-police team investigating alleged political-religious collusion ended its work Monday after 237 days. The probe led to the arrest and indictment of Lee Man-hee of Shincheonji and the seizure of 26 billion won from Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja. It also examined alleged church efforts to influence elections, illegal political donations, and embezzlement, while a Seoul district court was due to rule later Monday on Han’s bribery case.
Lee Man-hee, left, founder of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, and Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja / Yonhap
A joint prosecution-police team investigating suspected collusion between politics and religion concluded its activities Monday, 237 days after its launch on Jan. 6.
The team achieved notable results, including the arrest and indictment of Lee Man-hee, founder of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a nonmainstream religious sect, and the seizure of 26 billion won ($18.9 million) in cash from the private safe of Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja.
The team had investigated allegations of Shincheonji coercing its members into joining the People Power Party (PPP), tax evasion and embezzlement of funds, as well as the Unification Church's illegal donation of political funds and embezzlement of church funds.
