ID :
208315
Tue, 09/20/2011 - 14:01
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/208315
The shortlink copeid
Prominent pastor faces probe over alleged embezzlement
SEOUL, Sept. 20 (Yonhap) --- Rev. Cho Yong-gi, the founder of one of the world's largest Christian churches, may face an investigation by prosecutors over allegations that he and his family embezzled large amounts of church funds, church elders said Tuesday.
A group of 29 elders at Yeouido Full Gospel Church in Seoul filed a suit Monday against Cho and his first son Cho Hee-jun, the former CEO of the church-affiliated local daily Kookmin Ilbo, accusing them of misappropriating over 20 billion won (US$ 17.4 million) of church funds for speculative stock market investment.
Officials at the Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office said they will start investigation on the case on Wednesday.
"This is only part of the tip of an iceberg," an elder who filed the complaint said, asking that he not be named due to the sensitivity of the issue. "We have already secured many evidences regarding Rev. Cho's mismanagement of money and will file additional suits."
The church denied the accusations filed against the Cho family, saying that the whistle-blowers "are only a fraction of the elder group."
The church, which claims a membership of 460,000, has often made headlines in the recent past over a series of internal feuds. Cho, under public pressure, stepped down from the church's chief pastor in April.
A group of 29 elders at Yeouido Full Gospel Church in Seoul filed a suit Monday against Cho and his first son Cho Hee-jun, the former CEO of the church-affiliated local daily Kookmin Ilbo, accusing them of misappropriating over 20 billion won (US$ 17.4 million) of church funds for speculative stock market investment.
Officials at the Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office said they will start investigation on the case on Wednesday.
"This is only part of the tip of an iceberg," an elder who filed the complaint said, asking that he not be named due to the sensitivity of the issue. "We have already secured many evidences regarding Rev. Cho's mismanagement of money and will file additional suits."
The church denied the accusations filed against the Cho family, saying that the whistle-blowers "are only a fraction of the elder group."
The church, which claims a membership of 460,000, has often made headlines in the recent past over a series of internal feuds. Cho, under public pressure, stepped down from the church's chief pastor in April.
