Prosecutors seek arrest warrants for ex-Shincheonji officials over alleged forced party membership
En resumen
Prosecutors are seeking arrest warrants for three former senior officials of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus for allegedly forcing over 50,000 members to join the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) between 2021 and 2023, aiming to influence election primaries.
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Investigators are looking into suspicions that the Shincheonji Church of Jesus forced followers to join the main opposition People Power Party (PPP).
SEOUL, June 13 (Yonhap) -- Investigators sought arrest warrants for three former senior officials of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a nonmainstream religious sect, over suspicions they forced church members to join the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) ahead of elections in 2021 and 2024.
A joint investigation team of the prosecution and police sought the warrants to arrest a former No. 2 leader of Shincheonji, identified only by surname Goh, and two others on charges of violating the Political Parties Act that bans forcing people to join or quit political parties.
Last week, Shincheonji founder Lee Man-hee was also questioned over the suspicions.
It is the first time the investigation team has sought arrest warrants since it was launched in early January to look into suspicions that the religious sect forced followers to join the PPP as dues-paying members with the intention of swaying the outcome of the presidential primary in 2021 and the general election primaries in 2024.
Investigators believe more than 50,000 followers joined the party as a result between 2021 and 2023.
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Perspectiva de IA — posibilidades, no hechos
Arrest warrants will be issued for the three former Shincheonji officials.
Probable · En días
Preguntas abiertas
- What is the full extent of Shincheonji's involvement?
- Will more officials be charged?
