SEOUL (AFP): Seoul's city government has asked prosecutors to press charges, including murder, against the founder of a secretive religious sect for failing to cooperate in containing the spread of the deadly coronavirus. South Korea has seen a surge in the number of infections -- adding more than 4,000 cases in less than two weeks -- with around 60 per cent of the national total linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. The Seoul City government said it had filed a legal complaint to prosecutors against 12 leaders of the sect -- including its founder, Lee Man-hee -- accusing them of homicide, causing harm and violating the Infectious Disease and Control Act. Shincheonji declined to comment, saying: "The most important thing for us now is disinfecting and our highest priority is to end the Covid-19 outbreak soon." But with more church members than available places in heaven, they are said to have to compete for slots and pursue converts.

Source: The Star March 02, 2020 03:11 UTC