Rev. Cho Yong-gi gets suspended jail term for embezzlement

A pastor of one of the largest Christian churches in the world was charged with a suspended prison term and fined for embezzlement.

The Seoul Central District Court on Thursday handed down a sentence of three years in prison with five years of probation to Rev. Cho Yong-gi, the founder and senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, for embezzlement that also involved his eldest son, Cho Hee-jun. The reverend was also fined 5 billion won ($4.5million).

The disgraced pastor was charged with pushing church officials to buy stocks owned by his son, at prices four times the market value in 2002.

In the same ruling, the younger Cho, former chairman of Next Media Holdings, was given a three-year prison term.