South Korean sect leader apologises over coronavirus spread

Founder and leader of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus Lee Man-hee bows ahead of a news conference at his villa in Gapyeong, South Korea, on March 2, 2020. - EPA

SEOUL (AFP): The leader of a secretive South Korean sect linked to more than half the country's 4,000-plus coronavirus cases apologised Monday (March 2) for the spread of the disease.

Shincheonji head Lee Man-hee's plea for forgiveness came after Seoul city authorities filed a murder complaint against him for failing to cooperate in containing the epidemic.