Scandal Unfolds: Unification Church Leader Faces Legal Scrutiny

Han Hak-ja, head of the Unification Church, entered a legal maelstrom this week as she appeared before prosecutors. The questioning revolves around accusations that bribes were made to ex-First Lady Kim Keon Hee by a church official, implicating high-profile South Korean figures in a multifaceted probe.

Despite the barrage of questions upon her arrival, Han, known to her followers as 'True Mother', refrained from addressing specific allegations. Leaning on aides for support, she expressed her decision to show up was due to her health condition, marking the first time she submitted to such questioning.

The larger investigation seeks to unravel claims that Kim accepted gifts, including luxury bags and jewelry, allegedly to further the Unification Church's interests. Both Han and Kim have rebuffed these claims as false, while the church maintains its distance from the actions of the indicted former official.

(With inputs from agencies.)