Prosecutors Indict 7 Shincheonji Executives for 'Obstructing COVID-19 Quarantine Measures'

Seoul city officials are entering the sanctuary on the 17th to conduct an on-site administrative investigation at the headquarters church of the Shincheonji Jesus Church Bartholomew Branch located in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji) executives accused of obstructing the quarantine measures against the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) have been brought to trial.

The Criminal Division 6 of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Park Seung-dae) announced on the 28th that three people, including A, the general affairs officer of the Shincheonji Gwacheon General Headquarters, were arrested and indicted on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, obstruction of official duties by deception, destruction of evidence, and instigation, while four others were indicted without detention.

A and others are accused of submitting false documents, such as downplaying the list of believers and meeting locations to the quarantine authorities in February, when COVID-19 was spreading, and destroying related materials in preparation for the prosecution's investigation. They are also charged with deliberately omitting the list of believers who worshiped with confirmed patients and the domestic movements of believers from the Wuhan church in China when submitting the documents.

The prosecution requested arrest warrants on the 6th for five people, including A, who are suspected of serious charges. Among them, three were detained, but two had their warrants dismissed.

Chairman Lee Man-hee (89) of the General Assembly was not included in the indictment as his investigation is ongoing. He was summoned for prosecution investigations twice, on the 17th and 23rd of last month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.