Asahi: Back taxes sought for guru's 'god figure' sales
Tax authorities have exposed the "sins" of a guru who earned 1 billion yen from sales of crystal "god figures" that purportedly contained his DNA information and cured illnesses. The Kanazawa Regional Taxation Bureau has demanded the 62-year-old guru, who is based in the city, pay more than 530 million yen in back taxes and penalties, sources said. The bureau described the guru's actions as a heinous attempt to conceal personal income by pretending the money came from the tax-exempt activities of a religious organization, the sources said. "I saved the income (from the sales of the figures) because I wanted to spend it on offering relief to my followers," the guru said. "Although there were differences in views with the taxation bureau, I followed its order out of a romantic mission to support the state". Most of the income came from sales of the crystal "god figures," which are 30 centimeter tall and 10 centimeter wide. Produced in 2004, about 1,100 of them have been sold for 1 million yen each to his followers and others in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and elsewhere. The crystal figures supposedly bring the followers "closer" to the guru. The DNA information analyzed from mucus taken from the guru's mouth was entered on a chip, which was then glued to the top of each "god figure," they said...."The 'god figure' is part of the guru. When one touches it, the guru's energy will flow into his or her body, which will boost immunity and cure illnesses," one of the followers said...more...
I find it odd that all the reports I've read have stopped short of mentioning this guru's actual name despite all the other details they have revealed.
