An official with the Unification Church accused of "split donations" to politicians from both the ruling and opposition parties has been sent to trial.
The Public Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Director General Song Bong-jun) on the 31st indicted Song Gwang-seok, who served as head of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), an affiliate of the Unification Church, on charges of violating the Political Funds Act.
Song is accused of donating 13 million won from a Unification Church-affiliated organization in Jan. 2019 to the campaign committees of 11 lawmakers.
However, prosecutors asked police to conduct supplementary investigations into three others, including Han Hak-ja, the Unification Church leader who was referred as a co-conspirator with Song.
Earlier, a special police task force referred Song, leader Han, former global headquarters chief Yoon Young-ho, and Jeong Won-ju, who served as leader Han's chief secretary, to prosecutors on charges of violating the Political Funds Act.
They are accused of systematically delivering illegal political donations to politicians from both parties in early 2019. Police said they used a method of making donations under individuals' names and then being reimbursed by a Unification Church corporation.
Their statute of limitations is seven years and was set to expire on Jan. 2 next year. However, because Song was indicted that day, the statute of limitations for co-conspirators, including leader Han, is also tolled, prosecutors said.