Seoul Sect Leader Gets Two Years for Fraud
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SEOUL — The leader of a doomsday sect was sentenced Friday to two years in prison for swindling $4.4 million from his fanatical followers.
Lee Jang-rim, 44, had led the Mission for Coming Days, the nation’s largest doomsday sect with about 10,000 followers. It was one of several to predict the end of the world would come in late October.
Lee was found to have bought large amounts of bonds with maturities extending beyond Oct. 28, the date that, according to his preachings, was to mark the beginning of the end of civilization.
About 20,000 people were caught up in the doomsday craze this fall. Several believers killed themselves, and others deserted their homes, schools and jobs.
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