Police Begin Search and Seizure at Sarang Jeil Church... Church's Legal Counsel Present (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] The police have begun a search and seizure operation at Sarang Jeil Church.

At around 8:40 PM on the 21st, the police and quarantine authorities started a search and seizure at Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, on suspicion of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act. About 70 investigators entered the church.

The police had obtained a warrant and waited from around 7 PM that day, but could not execute the warrant as no attendees arrived. At around 8:35 PM, two lawyers representing the church arrived on site, and the search and seizure began.

Earlier, the quarantine authorities attempted an on-site investigation for about 10 hours starting at 5 PM the previous day, but church officials, including lawyers, demanded a warrant and did not cooperate with the epidemiological investigators, resulting in failure to secure the list.

As of 12 PM that day, the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases related to Sarang Jeil Church was 732, an increase of 56 from the previous day. The list of church members already submitted by Sarang Jeil Church was only about 900 people, which is less than the actual size of the congregation and was also criticized for being inaccurate. The church's congregation is estimated to be at least 2,000 to 3,000 people.

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