Seoul: A special counsel team plans to indict a shaman linked to former first lady Kim Keon Hee next week on bribery and other charges. Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team, which is investigating various criminal allegations involving the former first lady, plans to indict Jeon Seong-bae, better known as Geonjin, with physical detention next Monday, one day before his pretrial arrest expires.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Jeon, who has been under arrest since Aug. 21, faces charges of delivering a diamond necklace, two Chanel bags, and other gifts from the Unification Church to the then first lady in 2022, along with the church's request for policy favors from the administration of then President Yoon Suk Yeol.
He is also accused of receiving around 100 million won (US$71,800) in so-called prayer money from political hopefuls ahead of the June 2022 local elections in exchange for requesting their nominations to Yoon's confidants.
Moreover, he is suspected of involvement in a campaign to recruit Church members as members of the then ruling People Power Party to support Rep. Kweon Seong-dong's bid as party leader in the March 2023 national convention.