The first settlements have been reached in petitions filed by former followers of the Unification Church demanding refunds of donations, lawyers for the ex-followers said Thursday.

The settlements between the controversial religious group, formally called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, and three former followers were reached at the Tokyo District Court. The group is set to pay a total of more than ¥50 million ($340,000).

According to the team of lawyers, the three are women in their 80s who live in Hokkaido, Tokyo and the Chugoku region, respectively. They are believed to have lost about ¥70 million in total through purchases of seals and pots in addition to donations.

The district court proposed that the religious group refund the full amount of money it was confirmed to have received, according to the lawyers.

Former followers began filing for court mediation in July 2023, and 194 people, including the three followers who reached settlements, have so far demanded a total of roughly ¥5.9 billion in refunds.

The Hokkaido woman said in a statement through the lawyers that she is relieved that the matter has been resolved, as she had spent her days feeling uneasy and restless.

"It's a big step forward that the group has accepted (the settlement)," Susumu Murakoshi, who leads the team of lawyers, said. "I want victims who had given up to understand that the possibility of actual relief has opened up and to consult the team."

The Unification Church said in a statement that it reached the settlement as it prioritized an early resolution, after the petitioners offered to negotiate individually.