SEOUL: South Korean doomsday cult leader Shin Ok-ju has been sentenced to six years in jail for holding her followers captive in Fiji and subjecting them to violence.

Shin, the founder of the Grace Road Church, convinced 400 people to move to Fiji in 2014, claiming they would be safe from imminent natural disaster.

Once there, their passports were taken away and many of them reported being beaten to “drive out evil spirits”.

Shin was arrested last July.

‘I lost my entire family to a cult’ – Grace Road survivor speaks to the BBC

On Monday, a South Korean court found Shin guilty on several criminal charges including violence, child abuse and fraud.

“The victims suffered helplessly from collective beatings and experienced not only physical torture but also severe mental shock,” said a sub-court of the Suwon District Court.

“Heavy punishment is inevitable against illegal acts carried out in the name of religion,” it said.

(Agencies)