[ENG Trans.] Prosecutors demanded Lee to 5 years in prison. Lee said, "I will live without sin"
Dec. 9, 2020 ENG translation
Original Source: https://news.mt.co.kr/mtview.php?no=2020120919288242033 (KOR)
Reporter (Suwon = News1) Yoo Jae-kyu and Choi Dae-ho
Registration Date: Dec, 9, 2020 19:34
The decision-making trial at the Suwon District Court on the 9th...The prosecution's emphasis on "anti-social organization, poor guilt" Lee emphasized "Contributing to quarantine by donating plasma"...to be sentenced in January next year
(Suwon = News1) Reporter Yoo Jae-kyu and Reporter Choi Dae-ho = Prosecutors have demanded a five-year prison term for Lee Man-hee (89), chairman of the Sincheonji Jesus Church the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, who was indicted on charges of obstructing the government's quarantine activities. In addition, he asked the court to impose a fine of 3 million won (around $2800).
The 11th Criminal Department of the Suwon District Court (Chief Judge Kim Mi-kyung) held a decision-making trial on Lee, who was indicted on charges of violating the Act on the Prevention of Infectious Diseases, obstructing the execution of official duties by hierarchy, and destroying evidence.
The prosecution said, "Lee committed a very serious crime in the early stages of the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19), which exposed dangerous diseases to countless people's bodies due to Shincheonji's misconduct."
"Shincheonji is an organization that does not hesitate to engage in anti-social activities for profit, including the organizational culture of absolute obedience. Lee pretended to cooperate with the government on the surface, but it didn't work out properly," he added.
"Lee also consistently forced Shincheonji church members to pay donations by making them unable to do their work properly," he said. "Please sentence Lee, who is poorly guilty, to prison."
Prior to the demanding, the prosecution focused on proving Lee's charges once again by subdividing the charges for about an hour, including Δ obstruction of business, intrusion of building materials, violation of the infection prevention method, obstruction of hierarchy, and aggravated punishment of certain economic crimes.
The defense counsel also spent more than an hour on the closing argument, claiming Lee's innocence.
The lawyer said, "Lee actively cooperated with the quarantine authorities' request and actively worked on three times of plasma donation by Shincheonji members," adding, "I am sorry that Lee and Shincheonji members caused concern to the people."
"But it is too harsh for Lee to shoulder the responsibility for the spread alone. "Lee is old and Lee is suffering from various diseases," the lawyer said. "I hope the court will give him a generous decision."
In the consideration of the judge, Lee began his final statement in a wheelchair.
Lee said, "I have been around Kim Nam-hee (a figure who was once called the No. 2 man in Shincheonji and a mistress) for nearly 20 years. There's a saying, 'People know when they go through it.' Ninety percent of what Kim said is a lie. But I don't want to curse (Kim)."
Lee's remarks apparently came after Kim appeared as a witness during the 13th trial and stressed that he was guilty of embezzlement.
To the reporters and Shincheonji believers sitting in the auditorium, Mr. Lee said, "You live with a salary, right? I've never been paid a single salary." he said. he raised his voice. "I have no embezzlement, of course, and there is no single piece of land to me. This is what the heaven heard and the earth heard."
He apologized to the people for the Corona 19 incident and also stressed that he paid more attention to prevention by contributing to the "plasma donation" that the government could not do.
"How long will I live if I live? (To the prosecutors) Do you want to make me a sinner?" Lee said. "You must never lie. I will live without sin again and live upright."
The court said, "We will review the investigative agency's report, testimonies by witnesses present and lists of evidence duly adopted, and make the final decision if he is guilty or not."
Meanwhile, the prosecution demanded a 10-month prison term for Jeong, a subordinate of Lee and indicted on joint charges with Lee, and an eight-month prison term for Hong and Yang, respectively.
The defendant's interrogation, which was initially announced on the day, was withdrawn by the prosecution and his lawyer, respectively, and was not carried out.
The sentencing trial for Lee is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2021.
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