French Court Cuts Sentence of a Scientology Church Leader

A French appeals court reduced the sentence Monday for a Church of Scientology leader convicted of involuntary homicide in the suicide of a member.

The court also threw out the convictions of nine Scientologists on charges of theft, complicity or abuse of confidence, and reduced the fines of four others convicted in the case.

Prosecutors in the initial court case described Scientology as a sect and said it was essentially an enterprise that defrauded people. The defense argued it was a legitimate religion that was within its rights to ask members for money.

But the appeals court said Scientology’s status as a religion or a sect was irrelevant in judging its financial activities.

“From now on, it is pointless to question whether the Church of Scientology constitutes a sect or a religion, the freedom of belief [in France] being absolute,” the court said.

“The Church of Scientology can claim the title of being a religion, and can operate freely.”

The statement was especially significant in France, where the Parliament has branded Scientology a cult and included it on a list of groups that should be tracked.

The case centered on the March 1988 suicide of Patrice Vic, 31, who jumped out a window. Prosecutors said he was under pressure from the church to take a $5,000 “purification treatment.”

The lower court said in November that Jean-Jacques Mazier had subjected Vic to “psychological torture.” He was convicted of both involuntary homicide and fraud and sentenced to a 3-year jail term, with 18 months of it suspended.

On Monday, the appeals court said Mazier’s sentence was too harsh and suspended it. He still must pay an $83,000 fine.

The trial centered around Vic’s death, but its scope widened as investigators uncovered evidence of financial wrongdoing.

Founded in 1954 by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, the Los Angeles-based organization teaches that technology can expand the mind and help solve human problems.