TOKYO, July 15--(Kyodo) _ A former leader of the Ho-no-Hana Sampogyo foot-reading cult was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Friday for swindling about 150 million yen out of 31 people who sought healing from illnesses and other problems between 1994 and 1997.

Hogen Fukunaga, founder of the bankrupt Ho-ho-hana Sanpogyo cult, was ordered Friday to spend 12 years behind bars for swindling 31 people out of nearly 150 million yen under the pretext of religious training fees.

1,100 former followers of a guru known as the Voice of Heaven have filed lawsuits claiming damages totaling $546 million.