'Request Suspicion' Han Hak-ja President, Refuses Third Appearance... Possibility of Arrest Warrant

[Financial News] Han Hak-ja, the President of the Unification Church, who is under suspicion of 'Gun Jin Beop Sa request', has again submitted a non-appearance reason to the special prosecutor team (Min Jung-gi special prosecutor) investigating Kim Geon-hee.
The special prosecutor team announced on the 14th that President Han, who was scheduled for a summons investigation on the 15th, submitted a non-appearance reason in writing through his lawyer. President Han's position is that he will not appear due to health reasons.
President Han is accused of delivering gifts worth 80 million won, including two Chanel bags and a Graff necklace for 'Kim Geon-hee's gift', and Cheonsusam concentrate tea to Jeon Seong-bae, known as Gun Jin Beop Sa, through Yoon Young-ho, the former head of the Unification Church World Headquarters in 2022. In this process, former head Yoon reportedly testified that he conveyed the church's requests, including △ the acquisition of YTN by the Unification Church △ support for the Mekong River development project in Cambodia △ the attraction of the 5th UN Secretariat to Korea, with President Han's permission.
President Han is also suspected of delivering cash and other goods to Kwon Seong-dong, a member of the National Assembly, through former head Yoon, and receiving information related to overseas gambling investigations from Kwon.
The special prosecutor team plans to investigate President Han as a suspect, applying charges of violation of the Special Act on Solicitation and Political Funds Act. However, after failing to appear for the summons scheduled for the 8th, President Han was re-notified for the 11th but refused again due to health reasons. It is known that President Han's side conveyed the position that it is difficult to appear due to health issues, as the oxygen saturation level was below the normal range after a heart-related procedure on the 4th.
Considering that in criminal cases, an arrest warrant is requested if three appearance requests are not complied with, there is a possibility of compulsory investigation against President Han. As President Han is suspected of making a two-track request to former President Yoon's couple through Kwon and Jeon, the special prosecutor team is expected to speed up the investigation by securing custody. However, the fact that President Han's side strongly denies the suspicion, saying "I have never instructed any illegal political solicitation or monetary transaction," and the Unification Church's resistance by defining it as 'religious oppression' are obstacles. 
A special prosecutor team official said, "Future measures are under review."



theknight@fnnews.com Jeong Kyung-soo Reporter