Belgium charges Scientologists with extortion

BRUSSELS, Sep 4 (Reuters) Belgian prosecutors accused the Church of Scientology today of extortion, fraud and other crimes and sought to bring it and key members to trial.

Federal prosecutors said they were charging the church in Belgium, its European office in Brussels and 12 members with offences including the illegal practice of medicine and breaches of commercial practices.

Prosecutors were also considering whether the church should be considered a criminal organisation after an investigation prompted by complaints 10 years ago.

A prosecution spokeswoman declined to give specific details.

A court will initially examine the case and determine whether to send it to trial. It should rule in October or November.

The Church of Scientology said Belgian prosecutors had been using the media to damage its reputation over the past 10 years and yet had been unable to bring the issue to a court.

''As a consequence, this created a climate of intolerance and discrimination in Belgian society about the Church of Scientology and Scientologists,'' it said in a statement, adding it was seeking legal advice.

In April, the European Court of Human Rights ruled against Russia for repeatedly refusing to recognise Moscow's Church of Scientology.

Belgian prosecutors said they were not seeking to have the church banned in Belgium, but aimed to pursue it and members over certain activities.

Several European countries have refused to register the group, formed by science-fiction writer L Ron Hubbard, as a church.

REUTERS RS KP2243