21 members of Shincheonji Church's Singapore chapter arrested after resuming activities: MHA
SINGAPORE — Nine men, aged between 22 and 31, and 12 women, aged between 21 and 49, were arrested by police officers on Monday (9 November) for allegedly being members of an illegal Korean church, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Wednesday.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the members had allegedly resumed activities connected to the unregistered local chapter of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (SCJ).
Another group of nine women, aged between 22 and 52, and two men, aged 23 and 36, are assisting the police with the ongoing investigations.
Founded by South Korean Lee Man-Hee in 1984, SCJ has been accused of being a cult in several countries due to its unorthodox teachings, the MHA said.
“Based on testimonies of 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 Judgement. He has also claimed to be the only person who can interpret the Bible, and SCJ allegedly regards all other churches and pastors as belonging to Satan,” the MHA added.
SCJ also teaches its members that it is acceptable to use deceit and has been accused of infiltrating and disrupting established Korean churches.
In February, the MHA investigated the local SCJ chapter’s activities for using deceptive recruitment methods to exert a controlling influence over Christian youths and young adults in Singapore, and to conceal its existence from family members.
Following the investigations, five South Koreans holding key positions in the local chapter were repatriated in the same month, and the group’s front entities were dissolved.
“Members of the local chapter were issued warnings to cease further involvement in SCJ activities, or face further action from the authorities. In spite of the actions taken, the local SCJ chapter has resumed its activities covertly, under the direction of its South Korean parent chapter,” the MHA said.
Anyone convicted of being a member of an unlawful society may be jailed for up to three years or a fine of up to $5,000, or both.
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