People Power Party lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong and Unification Church President Han Hak-ja, who were detained on charges of giving and receiving illegal political funds, asked the court for release, but the court did not accept it.
On the 1st, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Appeals Division 8-3 (Presiding Judges Choi Jin-suk, Cha Seung-hwan, and Choi Hae-il) rejected the petitions by Kweon and Han after conducting a detention validity review. A detention validity review is a procedure in which the court examines and determines the legality of a suspect's detention and the need to continue detention. As a result, the two will remain detained at the Seoul Detention Center.
As the reason for the decision, the court said, "Based on the results of questioning the suspects and the case records, this petition is deemed groundless."
At the review that day, Kweon's side was said to have argued that the testimony of former Unification Church World Headquarters head Yun Young-ho, the key lead in the investigation, lacked credibility, and that the special counsel in the Kim Keon-hee case illegally collected evidence based on search and seizure warrants unrelated to the current allegations. Han's side was also reported to have argued that many parts of Yun's testimony were untrue and that, given her current poor health, she could not continue to endure detention.
However, the court accepted the special counsel's argument that detention should be maintained due to the risk of destruction of evidence.
Kweon was detained on the 16th. The special counsel suspects that in Jan. 2022, Kweon accepted illegal political funds worth 100 million won from former head Yun. Kweon is also suspected of receiving money and valuables from Han.
Han was detained on the 22nd. She has been charged with violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, violating the Political Funds Act, occupational embezzlement, and incitement to destroy evidence.
The special counsel believes that in 2022, it was Han who ordered and approved former head Yun to have Geonjin Beopsa Jeon Seong-bae deliver a Chanel luxury-brand bag and a Graff necklace to first lady Kim Keon-hee. The special counsel also determined that Han was involved in delivering at least 100 million won in illegal political funds from former head Yun to Kweon.
In addition, Han faces a charge of violating the Political Parties Act for allegedly orchestrating the mass enrollment of Unification Church believers as party members ahead of the People Power Party national convention in Mar. 2023. She is also accused of inciting the destruction of evidence around Oct. 2022 to squash an investigation into her involvement in overseas gambling junkets.
After the detention validity review was rejected that day, the Unification Church said, "We express our regret over the court's decision to dismiss," adding, "Even in this difficult and trying situation, we will faithfully engage in the legal procedures to come in order to uncover the truth."