Japanese government officials are making final arrangements to seek a court order to dissolve a controversial religious group formerly known as the Unification Church.

The culture ministry's advisory panel could discuss the issue as early as October 12.

Ministry officials have been looking into the group's alleged dubious marketing practices and solicitation of large donations from its followers. They formally asked it questions and interviewed former followers.

As a result, they appear to have concluded that the group's practices meet the requirement for a dissolution order.

The law stipulates that the court may order the dissolution of a religious corporation when it commits an act, in violation of laws and regulations, which is clearly found to significantly harm public welfare.

Government sources say there is enough objective evidence that the group's practices were systematic, malicious and incessant.

If the government requests a court order, it will be the third case for an administrative agency to seek the dissolution of a religious group for violating the law. The previous cases included the Aum Shinrikyo cult, which launched a deadly sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system in 1995.

If the court issues the order, the group will lose its status as a religious corporation and no longer be entitled to tax benefits, such as the exemption of real estate tax. But it will be able to conduct religious activities.

The former Unification Church argues that its activities are not systematic, malicious or incessant, and do not meet the requirement for a dissolution order.

The spotlight fell on the group after the fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last year. The suspect told investigators he believed Abe had close ties to the group. His mother made huge donations to it and he claimed this ruined his family financially.