
Bail decision one day before expiration of suspension of arrest while receiving treatment for chronic illness… Deposit of 200 million won, restrictions on hospital residence, etc.
AI-generated summary
Unification Church President Hak Ja Han was sentenced to two years in prison in the first trial on charges of transferring political funds and soliciting.
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Young-seup = Unification Church President Hak Ja Han, who was sentenced to prison in the first trial on charges of 'politico-political collusion' with the Yoon Seok-yeol government, was granted bail in the second trial.
On the 19th, the 13th Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court (Judge Kim Moo-shin, Lee Woo-hee, and Yoo Dong-gyun) accepted President Han’s request for bail.
President Han's detention has already been suspended for seven months due to treatment for a chronic illness.
He was arrested by Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki's team in September of last year and was released two months later in November when the court suspended his detention. However, the extension was not granted and he was immediately re-imprisoned. Then, in March of this year, his execution was suspended again and he received hospital treatment.
This bail decision came one day before the expiration of the detention.
Suspension of detention is a system of temporary release when the defendant has urgent reasons for release, such as serious illness, childbirth, or attending a family funeral, and is distinguished from bail (release with conditions such as bond).
The court said, "We will grant bail in consideration of the defendant's health condition, progress of the case, level of evidence collection, etc., but impose conditions that are more stringent than the conditions for suspension of detention."
Specifically, he was ordered to pay a bail deposit of 200 million won in cash and limit his residence to the hospital where he is currently receiving treatment.
It was also specified as a condition not to have any contact with anyone except for a limited number of people such as medical personnel, lawyers, and mobility assistants.
President Han was indicted on charges of conspiring with former Unification Church World Headquarters Director Yoon Young-ho and others to deliver 100 million won in political funds to Rep. Kwon Seong-dong of the People Power Party at the time in January 2022, requesting support for the Unification Church from the Yoon Seok-yeol government.
In July of that year, he was accused of soliciting church issues by handing an expensive necklace and Chanel bag to Ms. Kim Kun-hee through 'Geonjinbeopsa' Jeon Seong-bae, and in March, he was accused of splitting and donating 100 million won of Unification Church group funds to People Power Party members and others.
Last August, the first trial found President Han guilty on the main charges and sentenced him to a total of two years in prison.
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