Prosecution Seeks 5-Year Prison Sentence in Appeal Trial for Shincheonji's Lee Man-hee, Previously Given Probation in First Trial

Lee Man-hee, President of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji).

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] In the appeal trial of Lee Man-hee, the president of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji), who was found guilty of embezzlement and obstruction of business in the first trial and sentenced to probation, but acquitted of violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act for obstructing COVID-19 quarantine activities, the prosecution demanded a 5-year prison sentence for Lee.

At the appeal trial decision hearing held on the 19th, presided over by the Criminal Division 3 of Suwon High Court (Chief Judge Kim Seong-su), the prosecution requested, "Please overturn the original judgment and convict on all charges," demanding the same sentence as in the first trial: 5 years imprisonment and a fine of 3 million won.

Regarding the key charge of obstructing quarantine activities, for which Lee was acquitted in the first trial, the prosecution emphasized, "The defendant submitted false information to the quarantine authorities during the national crisis caused by COVID-19," adding, "The impact continues even after more than two years, yet he shows no remorse and only offers excuses."

In his final statement, Lee said, "Shincheonji is the victim," and added, "(Nevertheless) Shincheonji is currently donating plasma with thousands of people giving blood to overcome the COVID-19 situation."

He also claimed, "I do not own even a single room or a single pyeong of land in my name," and "All money was spent on church affairs; I have not used any personally."

Lee was indicted on charges 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 accused of embezzling 5 billion won of church funds during the construction of the Peace Palace, Shincheonji’s training center, and a total of 5.6 billion won, as well as obstruction of business for holding religious events in public facilities of local governments without approval from 2015 to 2019.

Previously, the Criminal Division 11 of Suwon District Court (Chief Judge Kim Mi-kyung) recognized Lee’s guilt for embezzlement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes and obstruction of business, sentencing him to 3 years imprisonment with 4 years probation. However, he was acquitted of violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, the core charge.

At that time, the court stated, "The quarantine authorities’ request for Shincheonji to submit facility status and member lists cannot be considered an epidemiological investigation," and explained, "Since it pertains to the data collection stage rather than the epidemiological investigation itself, omitting some data cannot be punished as obstruction of quarantine activities."

After the first trial’s verdict, both the prosecution and Lee appealed.

The prosecution appealed on the grounds that the first trial court did not recognize Lee’s guilt regarding obstruction of quarantine and that the sentence for the recognized embezzlement and obstruction of business charges was too lenient, while Lee’s side contested the embezzlement and obstruction of business charges seeking acquittal.

Lee’s appeal trial sentencing date is set for the 30th of next month.