Kishida Increases Staff For Probe Into Former Unification Church
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has revealed more information about a probe into the controversial religious group formerly known as the Unification Church.
On Friday, he said he will increase the number of government staff involved to 38, up from the current eight.
The religious group is accused of demanding massive sums of money from followers. Many are in financial ruin.
A division of the Cultural Affairs Agency is handling the investigation.
In an unprecedented move, officials will be exercising a provision of the Religious Corporations Act that gives them "the right to ask questions."
Kishida says they will be working with legal and accounting experts.
He also says they will collect information from other government ministries and agencies, as well as lawyers and people who have suffered due to the religious group.
Japan's political parties are divided over how to regulate donations to religious entities.
Kishida has ordered officials from his party to expedite talks on legislative measures. They could include relief to people who say they were financially exploited by the former Unification Church.