Singapore 'Godwoman' Jailed for Cruelty and Fraud Against Followers

Woo May Hoe, a 54-year-old Singaporean woman, has been sentenced to 10-and-a-half years in prison for exploiting her followers under the guise of spiritual guidance, Channel NewsAsia reports.

P24 News

June 30, 2024

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Woo May Hoe, posing as a divine figure capable of connecting with gods, led a group of approximately 30 followers in Singapore under the belief in Sri Sakthi Narayani Amma, an Indian spiritual leader. Over eight years, from 2012 to 2020, she subjected her devotees to extreme physical and psychological abuse, manipulating them into severe financial losses and performing degrading acts.

False Deity and Manipulation

Under the guise of spiritual sessions, Woo convinced her followers that she possessed divine abilities to communicate with gods and spirits. She required them to address her as their 'lord' and enforced a regimen where followers were coerced into drastic acts to cleanse their 'bad karma' and accumulate 'good karma', including sending large sums of money to Amma in India.

Financial Exploitation

Woo manipulated her followers into divulging their financial assets and coerced them into surrendering their money under threat of divine retribution. She purportedly collected funds for charitable projects in India but instead misappropriated S$7 million (US$5.2 million) and convinced her followers to take out S$6.6 million in loans, of which only a fraction has been repaid.

Violent Punishments and Abuse

For those under her control, disobedience meant facing brutal repercussions. Followers who disobeyed were subjected to physical violence such as beatings with canes, stabbings with scissors, and forced consumption of human feces. Shockingly, Woo even extracted teeth from some followers using pliers and coerced others to jump from buildings, causing severe injuries.

Legal Actions and Consequences

In mid-2020, several victims courageously filed police reports, detailing extensive physical abuse, financial ruin, and coercive control by Woo. These reports culminated in Woo's arrest in October 2020. Despite assessments indicating she suffered from paranoid schizophrenia during her offenses, the court held her accountable for her deliberate acts of fraud and cruelty.

Prosecution and Sentencing

During sentencing, the prosecution highlighted Woo's reign of terror over her followers, exploiting their unwavering faith and trust for personal gain. The court, recognizing the severity of her actions, sentenced her to a substantial jail term of 10-and-a-half years, reflecting the gravity of her crimes and the lasting impact on her victims' lives.