'Moonies' church leader jailed for two years over bribery offences
Han Hak-ja, 83, gave South Korea's former first lady two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace, a court found.
Han Hak-ja, the 83-year-old widow of the Unification Church's founder Sun Myung Moon, has been sentenced to two years in prison for bribery offences, according to prosecutors. She is accused of giving former South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee luxury items, including Chanel bags and a diamond necklace, valued at 80 million won ($57,900; £42,500).
The products were allegedly given to Kim in exchange for political and business favors between April and July 2022. Kim Keon Hee, who previously received a 20-month sentence for accepting bribes, reportedly admitted to receiving the luxury items but claimed she later returned them unused. The Unification Church, also known as The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, has a history of alleged coercive fundraising tactics, earning it a reputation as a "cult-like" organization.
The church has extensive connections to politicians in South Korea, Japan, and the United States, including former US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.
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