Joint Investigation Team Raids Unification Church Facilities Including Cheonjeong Palace Over Hak Ja Han Embezzlement Allegations

First Compulsory Investigation on Embezzlement Charges

The joint prosecution and police investigation team, which is probing allegations of collusion between the Unification Church and Shincheonji Church, has conducted a search and seizure of major Unification Church facilities in connection with suspicions of embezzlement of internal funds.

Panoramic view of Cheonwon Palace and Cheonjeong Palace of the Unification Church in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province.

According to the legal community, on the morning of May 6, the joint investigation team carried out search and seizure operations at over 10 locations, including the Unification Church Cheonwon Palace and Cheonjeong Palace in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, the Seoul headquarters, and the Hyojeong Global Unification Foundation. It is understood that the search and seizure warrant specified allegations of embezzlement and occupational embezzlement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Economic Crimes, naming Unification Church leader Hak Ja Han and others.

The joint investigation team reportedly applied new embezzlement charges after discovering indications of suspected internal fund embezzlement while tracking the flow of the Unification Church’s finances. The team suspects that the church’s internal funds may have been used to create a slush fund for President Han, among other purposes.

This is the first time the joint investigation team has executed a search and seizure warrant against the Unification Church on embezzlement charges. Previously, in January, the team executed two search and seizure warrants in connection with allegations of mass membership applications to the People Power Party.

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