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Lee
Man-hee, a self-proclaimed messiah who founded and heads the
Shincheonji Church of Jesus, had been accused of violating the
Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act by providing
incomplete lists of church members requested by health
authorities to trace suspected coronavirus infections.
The church was at the centre of the first major COVID-19
epidemic outside China early last year, with nearly 4,200 of its
310,000 followers infected after attending a service in the city
of Daegu.
Authorities at the time complained that Lee was not fully
cooperating when it came to providing the names of everyone who
might have attended services at the church.
Prosecutors had sought a five-year jail term and 3 million won
($2,700) in fines for Lee.
Lee denied any wrongdoing. He apologised that some church
members had caught the virus.
The Suwon District Court acquitted him of the charges, saying
lists of church members did not constitute key elements of
epidemiological surveys as defined in the law, Yonhap said.
The court, however, found Lee guilty of embezzling 5.6 billion
won ($5.11 million) of church funds to build a residence, and
using government facilities for religious services without
approval, handing him a four-year suspended prison sentence.
Court officials were not immediately available for comment.
The church welcomed Lee's acquittal of the COVID-19 accusations
but expressed "deep regret" that he had been found guilty of the
other charges.
It said it would appeal to prove his innocence.
($1 = 1,094.9900 won)
(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Additional reporting by Sangmi Cha;
Editing by Robert Birsel)
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