Ho-no-Hana members admit fraud

Yomiuri Shimbun/June 13, 2000

Several leaders of Ho-no-Hana Sanpogyo have admitted to fraud allegations that cult members, including founder Hogen Fukunaga, swindled large amounts of money from participants during seminars hosted by the cult, police said Monday.

According to police, several cult leaders admitted the cult orchestrated the seminar fraud. One leader said he took part in the fraud because he wanted to raise his status within the cult by collecting money from seminar participants, while another said he wanted Fukunaga's recognition. Police suspect cult members committed repeated fraudulent acts under Fukunaga's orders.

Fukunaga, however, has denied all such allegations.