Heo Gyeong-yeong granted bail after more than a year in detention

Heo Gyeong-yeong, honorary chairman of the National Revolutionary Party, will be released on bail while standing trial on charges that include fraud and quasi-forced indecent assault. Prosecutors allege he deceived followers into believing he possessed spiritual healing powers, then used that influence to extort money and commit sexual misconduct.

The 11th Criminal Division of the Uijeongbu District Court, presided over by Judge Yang Cheol-han, granted Heo's bail application Monday. Release procedures are underway, and he is expected to walk free by the end of the day.

Heo has been held in detention since last May — roughly 13 months — and had filed for bail three times. The first two applications were rejected. In his third attempt, his legal team argued that his advanced age, deteriorating health and the need to exercise his right to defense made a trial without detention necessary.

At a bail hearing June 4, Heo's lawyers said he would turn 80 next year and had been in custody for one year and 19 days as of that day. They said he had undergone hernia surgery and a discectomy before his arrest but was detained before making a full recovery, causing him serious pain, and that he had been taken to outside hospitals for treatment on multiple occasions. They also argued that bail exists to restore the principle of trial without detention, allowing defendants to properly exercise their right to defense, and asked the court to let Heo stand trial without detention so he could adequately prepare his defense on the quasi-forced indecent assault charges — which he contests — in accordance with the constitutional presumption of innocence.

Prosecutors opposed the application, arguing that detention remained necessary for the consolidated additional cases given the risk of evidence destruction and the possibility that Heo could attempt to influence related parties.

Proceedings in the political funds law violation and embezzlement cases against Heo have concluded, while the fraud and quasi-forced indecent assault cases remain under deliberation following a change in the presiding panel.