[ENG Trans.] Prosecutors have demanded prison terms for the officials of the Daegu Church of Shincheonji

 Nov. 30, 2020 ENG translation 

Original Source: https://news.v.daum.net/v/20201130164232218 (KOR) 

Reporter Daegu CBS Kwon So-young 

Registration Date: Nov. 30, 2020 16:42

(사진=이한형 기자/자료사진) (Photo = Reporter Lee Han-hyung)

Prosecutors have demanded prison terms for the officials of the Daegu Church of Shincheonji who was indicted on charges of deliberately omitting the list of church members to obstruct the quarantine authorities' epidemiological investigation.

In a final hearing held on the 30th at the hearing of the 11th Criminal Department of the Daegu District Court (presiding judge Kim Sang-yoon), the prosecution demanded a three-year prison term for Choi, the tribe leader of the Daegu Church, and a two-year prison term for Baek, the head of the planning department, on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention Act and obstructing the execution of official duties.

They also demanded one year to one and a half in prison for each of the six administrators of the Daegu Church who committed the crime with them.

"Although we cannot shift all responsibility for the Corona 19 quarantine to Sincheonji, we can say that the omission of the list contributed to the city's initial quarantine failure," the prosecution said. "They are partly responsible for the initial quarantine, such as submitting a list of missing some church members and wasting administrative manpower."

감염병예방법 위반, 횡령 등의 혐의로 구속기소된 이단 신천지 이만희 교주가 지난 12일 오후 수원구치소를 나서고 있다.(사진=이한형 기자/자료사진) Lee Man-hee, the leader of cult Shincheonji, who was indicted on charges of violating the Act on the Prevention of Infectious Diseases and embezzlement, leaves the Suwon Detention Center on the afternoon of the 12th.(Photo = Reporter Lee Han-hyung)

"They submitted the list of church members at the request of the quarantine authorities and protected the sensitive personal information of some members for religious reasons," the defendant's lawyer said. "Punishing them on the grounds that it is not an accurate list is an overly broad interpretation of the penal code."

He added, "They feel responsible for the infection and please take good care of it as they cooperate with the development of treatments."

"I apologize for the suffering and difficulties of the Corona 19 group infection," said the tribe leader Choi, who attended the decision-making hearing. "It was everyone's first infectious disease situation and please take into account the fact that this incident originated in the absence of sophisticated administrative organizations in the church."

They were put on trial on Feb. 20 on charges of submitting a list of more than 100 church members who were reluctant to expose themselves to the outside when quarantine authorities asked them to submit a full list of church members.

The sentencing hearing will be held at the Daegu District Court on Jan. 15 next year.

[Daegu CBS Reporter Kwon So-young]