[ENG Trans.] National Tax Service (NTS) accused Lee Man-hee, Chairman of Shincheonji, of tax evasion to the prosecution

 Nov. 25, 2020 ENG translation 

Original Source: https://www.etoday.co.kr/news/view/1966143 (KOR) 

Reporter Kim Myeon-soo

Registration Date: Nov. 25, 2020 05:00

▲감염병예방법 위반 등 혐의로 구속기소됐다가 최근 건강 악화 등을 이유로 보석 석방된 이만희 신천지예수교 증거장막성전(신천지) 총회장이 18일 오후 경기도 수원시 영통구 수원지방법원에서 열리는 공판에 출석하고 있다. (연합뉴스) Lee Man-hee, Chairman of Shincheonji, who was arrested on charges of violating the Act on the Prevention of Infection and was recently released on bail due to health problems, is attending a hearing at Suwon District Court in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on the afternoon of the 18th. (Yeonhap News Agency)

Lee Man-hee (89), chairman of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, and the church of Shincheonji across the country were found to have been subject to a special tax investigation by the National Tax Service since April this year and collected billions of won in taxes. In addition, the National Tax Service filed a complaint with the prosecution against Lee on charges of tax evasion against some tax items, including gift taxes.

According to The Today's report, the 4th Bureau of Investigation at the Seoul Regional Tax Office conducted a "high-intensity" tax investigation on about 30 churches, including Lee and 12 Sincheonji tribes, for about five months from late April to mid-September. In the latest tax investigation, the Seoul National Tax Service filed a complaint with the prosecution against Lee on charges of tax evasion, judging that he intentionally evaded taxes while collecting nearly 1 billion won ($900,000), including income and gift taxes.

It has been found that churches under Sincheonji, including 12 Sincheonji tribes, were also fined at least millions to tens of millions of won in taxes.

Earlier, the National Coalition for the Countermeasures of Shincheonji(NCCS) claimed that even though Shincheonji is not a corporation that issues donation receipts that can receive income deductions under the tax law, it issues church donation receipts to believers across the country to receive year-end tax adjustment deductions.

NCCS also pointed out that donations reported to the Sincheonji General Assembly headquarters amounted to 348 billion won in 2018 and 384 billion won last year, and that there is a high possibility of tax evasion.

In response, the National Tax Service is sparing no words. An official from the National Tax Service said, "It is true that the National Tax Service conducted a special tax investigation against Shincheonji, but we cannot confirm what kind of measures were taken as a result of the investigation." The official added, "However, as Shincheonji has become a social issue, the National Tax Service must have looked into the details," adding, "I don't know in detail, but NTS would have focused more on a series of suspicions related to taxes."

Meanwhile, Lee was released on July 12 after being arrested on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention Act and obstructing the execution of official duties by hierarchy and embezzlement in collaboration with officials of the Shincheonji branch in February, when the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) spread around the Sincheonji district. The prosecution's accusation is expected to give momentum to the prosecution's investigation into Lee, who was released from prison for his ill health.