Spiritual leader, followers sentenced in Buddhist cult death case

Taipei -- The Taipei District Court on Tuesday sentenced 13 people in connection with the death of a woman whose body was found at the meeting place of a Buddhist group in the city's Daan District in 2024.

In its verdict, the court sentenced the group's spiritual leader, the Buddhism writer Wang Yun (王薀), to 12 years in prison for causing bodily injuries leading to the death of the victim surnamed Tsai (蔡).

The group's chief executive, Wu Hui-chu (吳慧珠), and followers surnamed Kan (幹), Liang (梁), You (游) and Chiang (姜) received 10 years, while follower Lee Yuan-yuan (李淵源) received nine years for the same crime.

Four other members of the cult received sentences of 1.5 years to 5 years for acting as accomplices in the crime, while Taiwanese actor Lee Wei (李威), a follower who turned state's witness in the trial, and his wife both received suspended sentences.

The court said that in determining the sentences it assessed each defendant's actions in relation to Tsai's death, as well as considering whether they colluded, obstructed investigators or reached settlements with Tsai's family.

The verdict can be appealed.