Hak Ja Han, the 82-year-old leader of the Unification Church and widow of founder Sun Myung Moon, was arrested in South Korea on Tuesday amid a bribery investigation.

Prosecutors allege church officials bribed former First Lady Kim Keon Hee and conservative lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong, both of whom are facing criminal charges.

Han denies directing the payments, insisting a church official acted alone.

A Seoul court approved her arrest, citing risks of evidence tampering, CNN has reported.

The case is part of wider probes into corruption and abuses linked to former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached in April and now faces rebellion charges.