French Scientologists Charged With Fraud

French authorities believe Scientology is a sect and this case is one of many led against its followers.

A French judge has ruled that two branches of the church of Scientology along with seven of its heads to stand trial over fraud charges, a source from the court revealed on Monday.

The case is the latest in a line of legal battles fought by the French judicial system against Scientology, which is believed to be a sect by the French authorities.

The latest law-suit was raised by a complaint by a woman who claims she had enrolled a group of people she met at an Underground station into the Church of Scientology.

In the upcoming months, she claims, he has paid 140,000 French franks (21m430 euros) to Scientologists for “purification packages” and books.

Judge Jean-Christophe Hullin has ruled that Scientology operational centres in France, its Celebrity centre and bookshop, along with seven leaders, are to stand trial for “organised fraud” and “illegal medical practice”.