Zion church leader sues ex-follower
The head of the controversial Church of Zion in Hong Kong has slapped one of his former followers with a libel suit.
In a High Court writ filed yesterday, the Reverend Leung Yat-wah claims Kei Wai-yan maliciously embarked on a 'sustained campaign'.
The writ says Mr Kei launched a website, freefromzion.com, and on January 27, held a press conference with six other ex-members.
It was during the press conference that Mr Kei and the other former followers uttered seriously defamatory and sensational statements about Mr Leung, it says.
'By reason of the publication of the words, the plaintiff suffered grave loss and damage to his reputation,' the writ says.
'The plaintiff has been subjected to public odium, scandal and contempt and is gravely distressed.'
Mr Leung is asking for an injunction to stop Mr Kei from publishing further defamatory statements. He is also asking for damages for libel and aggravated damages.
The Church of Zion first courted controversy in 1996 when some of its members fell ill after drinking hydrogen peroxide on the advice of Mr Leung.
The police launched an investigation into the group, which was labelled a cult, but no action was taken.
The Hong Kong Church of Zion was set up in 1985 by the cult's Vancouver headquarters and ordained Mr Leung in 1991.
He and the Hong Kong chapter severed ties with Vancouver in 1995. Mainstream Christian churches have condemned it as a cult and its leader as a teacher of false doctrines.
