The Tokyo District Court on Monday ordered top leaders of Honohana Sampogyo to pay 150 million yen in damages to 31 people who accused the cult of conning them into contributing huge sums of money in the name of religious training.
In handing down his decision, presiding Judge Koichi Tsukuda upheld the plaintiffs' claim that the cult members, including founder Hogen Fukunaga, 55, coerced the victims into giving the money to the cult between 1992 and 1996 by fueling anxieties about their health.
"In a fraudulent and coercive way, (the cultists) solicited the victims for the money, which was later spent by Fukunaga and other defendants on personal goods," the judge said.
He added that the cult's activities "deviated from social norms" and are illegal.
The plaintiffs, who had taken part in "training" seminars organized by the cult, filed the suit in 1997, demanding 157 million yen in compensation. They claimed that Fukunaga and other cultists, after examining the soles of their feet, warned that they would suffer from illnesses such as cancer unless they took part in expensive training courses or donated money to the group.
The lawsuit is one of several ongoing damages suits filed against the cult by more than 1,200 people throughout Japan.
The plaintiffs are demanding a total of some 6.5 billion yen.
The Fukuoka and Akita district courts have already ordered the cult to pay compensation to some of these victims.
The plaintiffs have also requested that the courts declare the cult bankrupt and seize its assets to prevent it from diverting funds elsewhere.
Describing Monday's ruling as a total victory, the lawyers of the Tokyo plaintiffs told reporters that they believe the decision will sway other suits against the cult in the plaintiffs' favor.