Suspended Sentence, Probation and Fines for Convicted South Korean Pastor, David Yonggi Cho
"The court considered that
even though Pastor Cho had the final say in the church, he never took
the lead in any of the crimes, including tax evasion, committed on the
suggestion of the accounting firm." -Presiding judge
(South
Korea)—News reports, this week, have been swirling around the
indictment of South Korean Pastor David Yonggi Cho—Founder of the
world's largest church; Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul—on fraud and
embezzlement of $12 million in church funds. (Photo via Crossmap)
(South
Korea)—News reports, this week, have been swirling around the
indictment of South Korean Pastor David Yonggi Cho—Founder of the
world's largest church; Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul—on fraud and
embezzlement of $12 million in church funds. (Photo via Crossmap)
Cho
(78) was sentenced to three years in prison-suspended, and five years
probation, along with a fine of $5 million. He was also found guilty of
tax evasion.
Cho's oldest son, Cho Hee-Jun (49), was found guilty of the same charges, and according to the Charisma News report, because he was considered a flight risk, he was taken into custody immediately after his sentencing to serve a 3-year sentence.
The Charisma report noted that the court had "considered Cho's life journey as a religious leader and his long-term contribution to social welfare as mitigating circumstances on his behalf. The court ruled that his son, Cho Hee-Jun, was the instigator of the crime related to the purchase of the shares of 1-Service stock."
The
presiding judge had reportedly stated, "The court considered that even
though Pastor Cho had the final say in the church, he never took the
lead in any of the crimes, including tax evasion, committed on the
suggestion of the accounting firm." (Photo via Charisma News)
Which is probably why his prison term was suspended for probation.
In the Charisma report, Louisville, Kentucky pastor, Dr. Bob Rodgers also noted that in spite of his convictions, Cho didn't live an elaborate lifestyle. According to Rodgers, he didn't own a car, he lived in a 1,000-square-foot church apartment, and he had "raised and given personally to the church more than $170 million."
David Yonggi Cho told his congregation on February 23rd, "Through this suffering, I've learned a homework. An individual shouldn't possess anything."
Read more on this here.
Cho's oldest son, Cho Hee-Jun (49), was found guilty of the same charges, and according to the Charisma News report, because he was considered a flight risk, he was taken into custody immediately after his sentencing to serve a 3-year sentence.
The Charisma report noted that the court had "considered Cho's life journey as a religious leader and his long-term contribution to social welfare as mitigating circumstances on his behalf. The court ruled that his son, Cho Hee-Jun, was the instigator of the crime related to the purchase of the shares of 1-Service stock."
The
presiding judge had reportedly stated, "The court considered that even
though Pastor Cho had the final say in the church, he never took the
lead in any of the crimes, including tax evasion, committed on the
suggestion of the accounting firm." (Photo via Charisma News) Which is probably why his prison term was suspended for probation.
In the Charisma report, Louisville, Kentucky pastor, Dr. Bob Rodgers also noted that in spite of his convictions, Cho didn't live an elaborate lifestyle. According to Rodgers, he didn't own a car, he lived in a 1,000-square-foot church apartment, and he had "raised and given personally to the church more than $170 million."
David Yonggi Cho told his congregation on February 23rd, "Through this suffering, I've learned a homework. An individual shouldn't possess anything."
Read more on this here.
