– Spiritual leader cheating followers
– Spiritual leader fraud followers.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
A self-proclaimed spiritual leader in Singapore, Woo May Hoe, has been sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison for deceiving her followers and extorting over $7 million from them. The 54-year-old leader, who claimed to be a deity and had approximately 30 followers, pleaded guilty to multiple charges including assault and cheating.
Woo’s group believed in spiritual leader Sri Sakthi Narayani Amma, with Woo convincing her followers that the money they contributed would go to Amma’s society in India. However, instead of sending the funds as promised, Woo kept the money for herself between the years 2012 and 2020.
Exploitation of Followers
Under the guise of helping her followers clear their “bad karma” and improve their health, Woo manipulated them into making payments to Amma’s society. She also coerced her followers into purchasing properties and vehicles for her personal benefit.
Furthermore, Woo forced a significant number of her followers to live with her full-time, serving her every need and performing household chores. Those who disobeyed her faced severe punishment, including physical abuse and degrading acts like consuming human faeces.
Abuse and Coercion
Deputy Public Prosecutor Grace Chua revealed in court that Woo subjected her followers to physical and psychological abuse. She would use various objects to strike them, including scissors and canes, and even resorted to pulling out their teeth with pliers.
One victim, identified as V2, suffered long-term consequences after Woo forced her to wash her injured eye with “holy water” and stare at the sun. As a result, V2 now requires lifelong medical attention for potential eye damage.
Another instance involved Woo instructing a follower to use pliers to extract three of V2’s teeth as punishment for visiting her own mother without permission. The fear of similar consequences led the follower to comply with Woo’s demands.
Legal Action and Mental Health
Woo was eventually arrested in 2020 after several followers reported her to the police. While she was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, a mental health evaluation found no direct link between her condition and the criminal acts she committed.
This shocking case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of manipulation and abuse within spiritual groups. Justice has been served with Woo’s sentencing, bringing some closure to her victims and their families.
ALSO READ: Man who allegedly had multiple ‘spiritual wives’ and taught own brand of Islam charged
This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
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– Spiritual leader jailed for cheating followers
– Spiritual leader forces followers to eat faeces.
