S. Korea Jails, Fines Doomsday Preacher

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.