Scientology church fined for fraud in France

PARIS: A Paris court yesterday fined the French branch of the Church of Scientology a total of 600,000 euros ($902,200) after finding it guilty of fraud but allowed the group to continue operating in France.

When the hearing opened, there were expectations that the court could order the group to be banned in France but due to a mix-up over a law that passed in parliament just before the start of the trial in May, that option was ruled out.

The legislation has since been changed back to allow the dissolution of an organization found guilty of fraud but because of the timing of the case, there was no question of forcing the Church of Scientology to be wound up. The court handed down suspended prison sentences ranging from 10 months to two years and fines of 5,000 euros ($7,575) to 30,000 euros ($45,454) to four leaders of the group in France.