South Korea’s top court upholds jail term for MP over church bribes

“Accordingly, criminal punishment commensurate with his political position, authority, and responsibilities is unavoidable,” it said at the time.

Kweon, an ex-prosecutor, served as floor leader of the then-ruling PPP and was an ally of disgraced former president Yoon Suk Yeol.

The graft scandal centred on the Unification Church has also implicated ex-president Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, who was convicted of accepting two Chanel handbags and a Graff necklace from the church as bribes.

She was sentenced to four years in prison in April after also being convicted on separate stock manipulation charges.

Church leader Han Hak-ja is also being held in detention while standing trial on bribery charges, with prosecutors seeking a 13-year prison term.

Founded in 1954 by Han’s late husband, Moon Sun-myung, the Unification Church has long drawn controversy over its political ties and teachings that portray Moon as the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Following the scandals, prosecutors and police also launched a joint investigation in January into suspected collusion between religious groups and politicians.