Prosecutors on Monday demanded a 27-year prison term for Jung Myung-seok, the leader of the Jesus Morning Star sect, over the rape and sexual abuse of 16 followers. They said he assaulted or molested the women around 80 times between 2018 and 2022 after brainwashing them into believing he was the Messiah. Prosecutors also sought a 10-year employment ban, 20 years with an electronic tracking device and five years of probation.
Jung Myung-seok, left, is seen in this Feb. 18, 2019, photo provided by Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office. Yonhap
Prosecutors on Monday demanded a 27-year prison term for the leader of a religious sect, the Jesus Morning Star (JMS), on charges of raping and sexually abusing 16 followers, officials said.
Jung Myung-seok, 81, was accused of sexually assaulting or molesting the female members on around 80 occasions between 2018 and 2022 after making them incapable of resisting by brainwashing them into believing he was the "Messiah."
"The defendant repeatedly committed crimes by exploiting relationships of trust with vulnerable victims," the prosecution said.
