Head of the Christian Gospel Mission (commonly referred to as JMS) received a heavy sentence
The Daejeon District Court sentenced Jeong to 23 years in prison on charges of rape and forced harassment. The court also ordered to attach electronic anklets on him for location tracking for 15 years, impose restrictions on employment at welfare facilities for children and adolescents for 10 years, and completion of a 120-hour sexual violence treatment program. This is beyond the sentencing standards of the Supreme Court Sentencing Committee (four years to 19 years and three months in prison).
Jeong Myung-seok was arrested and charged with molesting or sexually assaulting Hong Kong follower Maple, AustrAlina follower Amy and a Korean follower on 23 occasions from March 2018 to September 2021 at a training center in Wolmyeong-dong, Jinsan-myeon, Geumsan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do. Jeong was found to have committed the crime after brainwashing his followers, calling himself a “messiah.”
Jeong denied the allegations, saying that the goddesses were not sexually brainwashed or unable to resist, and that he preachedto be a person, not a god. The court acknowledged the admissibility of evidence, which is the recording file Maple provided. It also rejected Jeong’s argument, saying that the victims’ statements were consistent and specific, and that the accused tried to enjoy his absolute status by calling himself messiah. The prosecution demanded 30 years in prison for Jeong.
JMS believers who were watching after the first trial broke down in tears and protested, claiming it was not a fair trial based on evidence but a trial to please the public after the Netflix documentary “In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal” gathered attention.
“The sentence was made almost two years after the victims submitted the complaint,” said lawyer Jung Min-young, the victims’ legal representative. “The JMS side interfered with the investigation by mobilizing believers around the victims, and took time to apply for unnecessary witnesses or avoid the victims, making it difficult for them.” “I think the court has made a stern judgment,” she said, adding, “I have met several victims and there are a lot of people who have not been able to file a complaint, so I expect there will be people who will cheer up after seeing the sentence today.” Twenty-one women, including minors, have filed a complaint with the investigative agency on charges of sexual assault or sexual harassment.
Jung Myung-seok was released from prison in February 2018 after serving 10 years in prison for molesting or sexually assaulting more than 20 followers at Malaysian resorts, Hong Kong apartments, and accommodations in Ansan, China from August 2001 to April 2006.
Source: Sports Kyunghyang
