The cult Honohana Sanpogyo has fabricated rings it claims to have been given by Pope John Paul II to its guru, Hogen Fukunaga, and sold them to followers for between 100,000 yen and 300,000 yen apiece, it was learned Wednesday.
Fukunaga, who ostensibly relinquished his official position as leader of the foot-reading cult in January after being told to do so by a "voice from heaven," was arrested Tuesday on charges of defrauding the cult's followers.
He and 11 other senior cultists apprehended the same day were turned over to prosecutors Wednesday. Papers on Fukunaga's 79-year-old mother were also sent to prosecutors on the same allegations. She is believed to be deeply involved in the cult's finances, according to police.