Kim Gun-hee's special prosecutor team has appealed the two-year prison sentence handed down to Han Hak-ja, the leader of the Unification Church, for allegedly providing money to Kim Gun-hee and others.
The special prosecutors stated on September 4 that they submitted the appeal to the 27th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court, led by Judge Woo In-seong, citing "improper sentencing and a misunderstanding of legal principles regarding the investigation subjects" in the first trial ruling.
They criticized the first trial for considering Han's vague and abstract claims of efforts for world peace as favorable circumstances for sentencing. They argued that the motive for the crime, which was to expand the Unification Church's influence and political power, was incorrectly deemed a favorable circumstance unrelated to personal gain.
The special prosecutors emphasized that the combined sentence of two years for Han and former World Headquarters Director Yoon Young-ho, who received a confirmed sentence of one year and six months from the Supreme Court and an additional six months in the first trial, is "difficult to understand."
They also contested the first trial's dismissal of charges related to the solicitation of evidence destruction, arguing that it contradicts the clear wording of legal provisions. They expressed that the dismissal of charges related to embezzlement in connection with political campaign funding for overseas politicians was also unjust.
Additionally, the special prosecutors filed an appeal against the decision to extend Han's release from custody. The first trial court accepted Han's request for an extension on September 1, prolonging the release period from the initial deadline of 6 p.m. on September 2 to 6 p.m. on September 30.
Han was indicted for allegedly delivering 100 million won in political funds to former People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong in January 2022, requesting support for the Unification Church from the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, and for giving expensive jewelry and a Chanel bag to Kim Gun-hee through Jeon Seong-bae, known as "Geonjin Beopsa," in July of the same year, in exchange for favors regarding church matters.
In the first trial, held on August 31, Han was sentenced to one year in prison for violating political funding laws and one year for violating the Anti-Graft Act and embezzlement. Han has not yet filed an appeal against this ruling.
Previously, the special prosecutors had sought a total sentence of 13 years, including five years for the political funding law violation and eight years for the other offenses, during the closing arguments.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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