Scientologists face medical, privacy offences

The federal prosecution office is prosecuting the European and Belgian branches of the Scientology religious movement, including 14 members, for a series of offences

4 September 2007

BRUSSELS – The federal prosecution department is prosecuting the European and Belgian branches of the Scientology religious movement, including 14 members, for a whole list of offences.

The judicial investigation into the Belgian activities of the worldwide Scientology movement started back in 1999. A number of ex-members had filed a complaint for fraud.

Investigating magistrate Jean-Claude Van Espen scrutinised all the activities of Scientology in this country. The bulky dossier has now been completed and the federal public prosecution department has presented its findings.

The public prosecution department is prosecuting both the Belgian Scientology Church and the European office of the international movement – Church of Scientology International. Some fourteen leading members and their subordinates are accused of a whole series of offences: criminal organisation, extortion, fraud, violation of commercial right, breach of privacy laws and the illegal practice of medicine.

Nobody was available for comment at the Scientology office, according to De Tijd, but Scientology has repeatedly rejected all accusations against the movement.

Subject: Belgian news