South Korea has arrested a leader of a religious sect Shincheonji Church of Jesus - Lee Man-hee - linked to the country's largest COVID-19 outbreak, BBC reported.

Over 5,000 members of the sect tested positive - this is 36% of confirmed COVID-19 cases.

The country's authorities accuse the sect leader of concealing information about the meetings of the organization's members, as well as their possible contacts with carriers of the infection.

Lee was arrested on Saturday following an investigation. According to the court, there were signs of the destruction of the necessary evidence in the case.

South Korea has confirmed a total of 14,336 COVID-19 cases, while the death toll is about 300.