Chinese Cult Founder Faces Execution

The founder of a cult that denounced the ruling Communist Party has been sentenced to death for raping women disciples.

Wu Yangming, 51, was arrested a year ago in east China’s Anhui province. On Dec. 29, the Bengbu Intermediate People’s Court ordered Wu executed and sentenced three of his top followers to jail terms of three, eight, and 15 years respectively, the Xinmin Evening News reported.

Wu, a peasant, founded the Beiliwang or Annointed King cult in 1988 in Anhui. It quickly spread to many provinces across China, but developed a base in Yingde, in the northern province of Guangdong.

Wu taught that by the year 2000 he would establish a new country under his rule, the Xinmin Evening News said.

Earlier reports said Wu targeted poor, uneducated peasant women, converting hundreds.