Fugitive Agape preacher Rocco Leo promises Australian apocalypse and plagues if his millions are not returned by Supreme Court

As his financial downfall looms, fugitive pastor Rocco Leo insists he is not a doomsday cultist – but warns Australia faces divine retribution if his money is not returned, with an apology.

Agape Ministries leader Rocco Leo, right, in Fiji. Picture: Agape Ministries International website.

• Exposed: How Italian-Swiss bingo funds Adelaide cult in Fiji
• Fugitive ‘messiah’ won’t contest lawsuit if his ‘messenger’ benefits
• One last pilgrim: 11th-hour bid for share of cult’s millions
• Doomsday war ends as sides agree to split cult’s assets

On the eve of his final financial downfall, Adelaide’s fugitive doomsday cultist says the country will be punished with plagues unless his millions are returned – with an apology.

In a series of online posts, Agape Ministries leader Rocco Leo has warned the Supreme Court not to give away his last $9 million next week.

Doing so, he says, will trigger “escalating catastrophes” before the end of 2018.

He also claims former parishioners and tax workers have fallen to divine retribution – in the form of car crashes, cancer and murder – because of their “evil pursuit” of his assets.

Leo, who insists he is not a doomsday preacher, promises a “financial slide” and “political chaos” for Australia if the court ignores his warning.

“Plague is looming over Australia … warning was given, so many times over so many years,” he writes.

Rocco Leo, centre, outside the Supreme Court in Adelaide prior to his 2010 departure from Australia.

“Unless the government authorities reinstate and return all they have appropriated from the house of God, and publicly apologise to the Man of God, Australia can expect that, by the end of 2018, it will be severely affected by many monumental plagues such as never seen before.

“Be very clear to know that you are now not fighting a mere man but you are fighting Almighty God … we pray you make the proper and right choices.”

On December 20, the court will divide Agape Ministries’ last assets between several groups who have, warred over the money for years.

The judgment will end a saga that began in 2010, when SA Police raided Agape’s properties and found firearms and ammunition.

Leo has lived in Fiji since that time – in defiance of an arrest warrant for assault – funded by charity bingo nights held in Italian-speaking parts of Switzerland.

Artwork: Peter MacMullin.

A portion of the judgment will go toward repaying the cult’s $13.4 million tax debt, and to refunding disgruntled former believers who lost their life savings.

Leo will get nothing, but three parishioners still loyal to him will walk away with a combined $1.2 million.

In his posts, Leo reminds readers of Biblical plagues sent by God including hail, fire and thunder.

He lists 17 plagues, ranging from homelessness and drug use to “China’s silent invasion of Australian life”, that will be unleashed if his demands go unanswered.

“There have been a number of notices sent to Australia’s government cautioning about the dire consequences of its seriously adverse treatment of a Man of God,” he writes.

“The terrible end result of their behaviour was clearly and concisely explained.

“The actions needed to avert this catastrophic damage to the entire nation have been provided in plain English – there was, and is, no room for misunderstanding.”

Some of the plagues and curses Rocco Leo has promised

Economic oppression

High cost of living

Drought and floods

China’s “silent” invasion

Property bubble bust

Manufacturing and mining bubble bust

Drug epidemic

Home and car invasions

Heatwaves, cold snaps and power failures

Aggressive law enforcement

Tax oppression

Increasing homelessness

Mortgage crisis

Livestock and harvest failures

Uncontrollable medical and pestilence epidemics

Corrupt politicians

Constitutional crisis

Read Rocco Leo’s letters to the ATO

Highlighting by Mr Leo

Follow @SeanFewster