Seoul, Dec 1 || A court began the first hearing of a trial of Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja on Monday over allegations that she bribed former first lady Kim Keon Hee and Representative Kweon Seong-dong of the People Power Party in exchange for favours.
Han is currently standing trial on charges of violating the Political Funds Act and the anti-graft law for her alleged involvement in gifting a luxury necklace and Chanel bags to Kim, the wife of jailed former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
She is also accused of colluding with a former church official, Yun Young-ho, to hand 100 million won (USD 68,000) to Kweon in 2022 in exchange for gaining favours for the church, News Agency reported.
During the hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, Han's legal team rejected the allegations made by special counsel Min Joong-ki, arguing they solely relied on testimonies from the former church official.
Han attended the hearing in a wheelchair, dressed in a black coat. A long line formed outside the courtroom earlier in the day as Unification Church followers arrived to watch the trial.