▲ Lee Man-hee, head of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, who faces charges of violating the Political Parties Act, attends a warrant substantive examination at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 24th.
The detention of Shincheonji leader Lee Man-hee, who is accused of forcing his followers to join the People Power Party, will be temporarily suspended until September 4.
The 27th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Woo In-sung) accepted Lee's request for a suspension of detention yesterday (August 31).
Consequently, Lee's detention will be suspended until 6 p.m. on September 4.
The suspension of detention is a system that temporarily releases a defendant when there are deemed to be urgent reasons for release, such as a serious illness, childbirth, or attending a family funeral.
Lee's legal team reportedly requested the suspension of his detention by citing health issues.
When Lee's side requested bail for similar reasons last month, the court held a hearing to review the necessity of his release, though a decision on whether to grant bail has not yet been made.
Lee was indicted and detained on charges of forcing his followers to join the People Power Party between 2021 and 2024 with the intent to influence the party's presidential and general election primaries.
Article 42 of the Political Parties Act stipulates that no one shall be forced to join or leave a political party against their free will.
The Joint Investigation Headquarters of Prosecutors and Police into Church-State Collusion Corruption believes that Shincheonji encouraged followers to join the People Power Party under names such as the "Pilates Project" for each branch, resulting in at least 56,000 followers joining the party.
With the five-year statute of limitations expiring, the joint probe team first indicted Lee in June regarding the party membership activities from July 2021, and further investigated the remaining charges to additionally indict him alongside seven former and current executives in July.
The court issued an arrest warrant for Lee in June, citing concerns over the destruction of evidence.
Lee is also on trial on charges of evading approximately 7.57 billion won in corporate and value-added taxes between 2016 and 2020 by operating Shincheonji branch church convenience stores under the names of followers to conceal profit-making businesses.
The preparatory hearing for that case is scheduled for 11:10 a.m. tomorrow (September 2).
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.