A Seoul court has rejected Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja's request to extend her temporary release from detention, ordering her return to custody.
The 27th Criminal Division of Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Woo In-sung) denied Han's application filed on the 19th to extend her suspension of detention, according to legal sources on the 21st.
Han had requested the suspension of detention on the 19th, citing the need for treatment of injuries from a fall and ophthalmological care. The court granted her request and ordered her temporary release on the 12th. Suspension of detention is a system that temporarily releases defendants when urgent circumstances exist, such as serious illness or childbirth.
This marks the second time Han has sought suspension of detention on health grounds. Han, who was detained in September last year over allegations of improper ties between religion and politics, was released in November under conditional suspension of detention. She applied for an extension at that time as well but was denied by the court.
Following this latest denial, Han was required to return to the detention center by 2 p.m. on the 21st. The court had previously set the release period from 10 a.m. on the 12th to 2 p.m. on the 21st when granting her suspension of detention.