Both the Prosecution and Lee Man-hee Appeal the First Trial Verdict of Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee

Lee Man-hee, President of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji). [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] Both the prosecution and Lee Man-hee, the president of Shincheonji Church of Jesus the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji) (89), have appealed the first trial verdict that sentenced him to a suspended prison term.

The prosecution appealed on the grounds that the first trial court did not recognize Lee’s charges related to obstructing quarantine measures against the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) as guilty, and that the sentence for the embezzlement and obstruction of business charges, which were recognized as guilty, was too lenient. Lee’s side appealed to contest the guilty verdicts on embezzlement and obstruction of business charges.

On the 18th, the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office filed an appeal with the court citing factual errors, misinterpretation of law, and inappropriate sentencing. Prior to this, President Lee’s side also filed an appeal.

Earlier, on the 13th, the Criminal Division 11 of Suwon District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Mi-kyung) found Lee guilty of embezzlement and obstruction of business under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes, sentencing him to three years in prison with a four-year suspension.

However, the court acquitted Lee of the key charge of violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.

The court explained, "The quarantine authorities’ request to Shincheonji for facility status and member lists cannot be considered an epidemiological investigation," adding, "Since this corresponds to the data collection stage rather than an actual epidemiological investigation, failure to submit some data cannot be punished as obstruction of quarantine activities."

Lee is accused of conspiring with Shincheonji executives in February last year, when COVID-19 spread centered around Shincheonji, to report reduced numbers of believers and meeting locations to the quarantine authorities.

He is also charged with embezzling 5 billion KRW of church funds during the construction of the Shincheonji training center, Peace Palace, totaling 5.6 billion KRW, and holding religious events in public facilities of local governments without approval from 2015 to 2019.