S. Korea Jails, Fines Doomsday Preacher
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SEOUL — A South Korean preacher who told his followers the world would end last Oct. 28 was jailed Thursday for a year and fined $26,000 for fraud.
Lee Jang Lim, 46, leader of the Dami Missionary Church, was arrested on charges of pocketing $1.3 million from his followers, who gave up their assets in expectation of doomsday. Prosecutors had demanded a seven-year jail term.
Many of Lee’s followers quit their jobs, sold their homes, turned over their assets to the church and abandoned families to prepare for the journey to heaven.
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