South Korean authorities indicted Hak Ja Han Moon, the 82-year-old matriarch of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, on Friday on charges of bribery, embezzlement and other alleged offenses.
The case against Mrs. Moon, the widow of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, is part of an expanding probe into prominent South Korean figures linked to imprisoned ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol. The investigation into Mrs. Moon specifically has raised concerns that the Asian democracy’s recently installed liberal president, Lee Jae-myung, is overseeing a purge of his party’s political opponents. It’s also drawn intense criticism from religious freedom advocates across the globe.
Mrs. Moon, who was arrested on Sept. 23, has denied the allegations against her and has maintained that she neither ordered nor permitted the alleged bribery.
In a statement Friday, Demian Dunkley, the president of Family Federation USA, condemned the indictment of Mrs. Moon.
“Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for believing in equality. Mahatma Gandhi was jailed for teaching nonviolence. Mother Teresa was condemned for her compassion among the poor. And now, today leaves no doubt — the indictment and detention [of Mrs. Moon] places South Korea on the wrong side of history with so many others,” he said.
“Persecutions based on Koreans’ faith, not their conduct, can never be condoned. And yet, that is where we are. As such, it marks yet another tragic moment for faith and freedom,” he said.
An investigative team led by South Korean special prosecutor Min Joong-ki said it indicted Mrs. Moon and her former chief secretary on charges of bribery, violating political funding laws, embezzling church funds, and instructing the destruction of evidence.
The special counsel engaged in investigating Mr. Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon-hee, requested the court issue a custody warrant last month to prevent Mrs. Moon from destroying evidence. She has been in custody since her Sept. 23 arrest.
Mrs. Moon stands accused of embezzlement, suborning, the destruction of evidence and violating the Political Funds Act and anti-graft law, charges she has denied.
Investigators have seized data showing that federation members — exact numbers unknown — joined Mr. Yoon’s conservative People Power Party in order to help empower lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong, a top supporter of Mr. Yoon. Investigators say the federation paid $72,000 to Mr. Kweon as a bribe. Mr. Kweon, who is also in jail, has denied all charges.
The aim of the bribes, it is claimed, was to earn political favors for the federation, including official assistance with a project in Cambodia and a takeover of Korean news channel YTN, in addition to a seat at the presidential inauguration.
Neither deal eventually transpired, nor did Mrs. Moon attend Mr. Yoon’s inauguration.
Leading religious freedom advocates and foreign affairs analysts have strongly criticized the case against Mrs. Moon.
“This is a disgrace,” said Alexandre Mansourov, a professor at Georgetown University’s Center for Security Studies.
“A religious leader of global stature is kept in horrible conditions. She may become a martyr, much like Jesus in his time,” Mr. Mansourov said earlier this week during The Washington Brief, a monthly virtual forum hosted by The Washington Times Foundation.
“The unification movement could grow stronger as a result. This prosecution damages South Korea’s international reputation, already criticized for religious and free speech restrictions. I hope important international cooperation projects and Korea’s soft power will not be frozen,” he said.
Ms. Moon’s husband, the late Rev. Moon, founded the Unification Church in South Korea in 1954 and went on to make it a global movement. She inherited the organization’s leadership after Rev. Moon died in 2012.
The foundation pursues the unification of religions worldwide while promoting conservative family values. It also operates several businesses, including The Washington Times.
• Andrew Salmon contributed to this article, which is based in part on wire service reports.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.