The Seoul city government said on Sunday that it will sue Lee Man-hee, the founder of Shincheonji Church, and the 12 leaders of the sect's branches for violation of the law of infectious disease prevention as well as violation of relevant provisions of the criminal law. 

The Seoul city government urged the local procuratorate to investigate Lee and his fellows. 

In addition, South Korean health authorities noted that Lee has undergone the test for novel coronavirus and is waiting for the result. Earlier, he was in quarantine at his home in Gyeonggi Province. 

As of Sunday evening, South Korea has reported 3,736 cases of COVID-19. 

Health authorities said that most of the 1,260 confirmed COVID-19 patients with an untraceable source of infection were linked to Shincheonji Church services.

(Cover: South Korea's capital Seoul logo in downtown Seoul, South Korea, February 23, 2020. /AP)