Belgians Bring Fraud Charges Against Church of Scientology

Yesterday's St. Petersburg (FL) Times reports that Belgian prosecutors, after ten years of investigation, are bringing criminal charges against the Church of Scientology in Belgium and 12 of its members, along with the Church's European Office for Public Affairs and Human Rights. Officials say that the Church's Belgium operations constitute a "criminal organization" that has used fraud and extortion to obtain money from its members. Defendants are also charged with practicing medicine without a license and violating privacy laws. Scientology spokesman Fabio Amicarelli said: "In 2007, the position of the (Belgian) prosecutor is really out of date."