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Scientology 'preyed on vulnerable people'

Published on 27 May 2009 under category: legal

The French church of Scientology is on trial for charges of organised fraud, in the second case in six years.

Charges against the organisation include targeting vulnerable people for commercial gain, with six leading members also being charged for illegally distributing pharmaceuticals.

Jean-Christohe Hullin, the main magistrate bringing the case against the church, said Scientology exploits vulnerable people to make money.

The case centres around Aude-Claire Malton who says she was approached when she was "very psychologically fragile" and was pressured into spending her life savings on the church's vitamins and 'purification packs'.

However, the church denies the claims, describing the trial as "sacrilegious" and a "carefully orchestrated campaign" to get the organisation shut down.

Scientology has been made famous by celebrity members, including Tom Cruise, who came out in support of it in 2005.

Originally several former members of the organisation were to take them to trial but three have since dropped the charges after reaching a financial agreement with Scientology leaders.