Seoul, South Korea (CNN) The leader of a controversial South Korean church who promoted chastity to his 130,000 followers has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of multiple counts of sexual assault and harassment.

Lee Jae-rock, the leader of the Manmin Central Church, who court documents show "deified himself" in sermons, was indicted for 42 counts of sexual harassment and sexual assault against eight victims.

Lee, 75, had "maliciously taken advantage of the victims who had absolute faith in his religious authority, and sexually harassed or assaulted the victims who were in their 20s repeatedly for an extended period and even sexually assaulting multiple victims at the same time," according to a press release from the Seoul Central District Court.

Pastor Lee leads a mass prayer service in Jerusalem on September 6, 2009.

Lee's victims had been members of his church since birth or childhood, the document said.

While they were of the age of consent at the time of their sexual relations with Lee, the court found that his followers were unable to resist his advances "due to their absolute faith in the infallibility of the accused."

Read More