China sentences 'cult leader' to life

The spiritual leader of a Chinese Buddhist sect has been sentenced to life and slapped with a hefty fine of USD 1.13 million for financial and sexual offences.
Wu Zeheng, 47, the leader of the Huazang Dharma group, will face a number of charges, including rape and using a cult "to sabotage law enforcement", the state-run Xinhua news agency said.
Wu was sentenced yesterday by Zhuhai City Intermediate People's Court in the southern province of Guangdong, and fined 7.15 million yuan (USD 1.13 million),according to the court.
Three of his supporters also were given sentences of up to four years in prison on charges including fraud, the report said.

Wu has been propagating the pseudo-religion Huazang Zongmen as a lofty sect of Buddhism and claimed to be the successor of several eminent monks.
Also in the name of charity and life science and through inflammatory preaching, Wu lured a growing number of followers, who were interested in Buddhism, were suffering diseases or thought association with the cult would ward-off ill fortune, according to the police.
Wu slept with many women by saying he could give them "supernatural power".
He was also found to have amassed more than 6.7 million yuan in ill-gotten gains, according to the court. Wu said he would appeal.