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SINGAPORE: Police arrested 21 people on Monday (November 9) for allegedly being members of an illegal society.
Preliminary investigations showed that the nine men, ages 22 to 31, and 12 women, ages 21 to 49, had allegedly re-engaged in activities related to the unregistered local chapter of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of Testimony (SCJ), which is based in South Korea, the Interior Ministry (MHA) said.
Another group of nine women, between 22 and 52 years old, and two men, between 23 and 36 years old, are assisting police in the ongoing investigations.
“MHA will not allow members of illegal societies or persons associated with them to threaten the public safety, peace and good order of Singapore,” he said.
The ministry said in February that it was investigating the activities of the local SCJ chapter.
READ: MHA investigates unregistered Singapore chapter of South Korean religious group Shincheonji
As a result of these investigations, five South Korean nationals who were identified as having held key positions in the local chapter were repatriated in February and the group’s front entities disbanded.
Members of the local chapter were warned to stop participating in SCJ activities or face further action from the authorities.
“Despite the actions taken, SCJ’s local chapter has covertly resumed its activities, under the direction of its main South Korean chapter,” MHA said.
“As such, (the Department of Criminal Investigation) is investigating members of the local SCJ chapter for possible crimes under the Companies Act.”
Anyone convicted of being a member of an illegal society can be jailed for up to three years or fined up to S $ 5,000, or both.
LEE: ‘I felt betrayed’: University graduate on her experience with the Singapore chapter of the Shincheonji Church of South Korea
ACCUSED OF CULT
The church was at the center of South Korea’s COVID-19 outbreak, with more than 5,200 of the country’s total cases linked to it.
Founded by South Korean citizen Lee Man-Hee in 1984, SCJ has “attracted accusations of being a cult in various countries due to its unorthodox teachings,” MHA said.
“Based on testimonies from former members, Lee has claimed to be the second coming of Christ, who would bring 144,000 people to heaven with him on the Day of Judgment. He has also claimed to be the only person who can interpret the Bible, and SCJ allegedly believes that all other churches and pastors belong to Satan, “MHA said in its press release.
READ: Murder investigation sought for South Korean sect at center of COVID-19 outbreak READ: South Korea’s Shincheonji church says members affected by COVID-19 will give plasma for investigation
“SCJ teaches that it is acceptable to use deception and lies if it serves God’s purposes. He has been accused of infiltrating and disrupting established Korean churches through deception and secrecy to trick people into getting involved with them.”
