The investigating magistrate heading an investigation into alleged fake job offers by the Church of Scientology in Belgium has today formally charged the organization with fraud.
The charge is the resuls of searches performed at Scientology’s offices last April 12. The raid, during which authorities seized documents, financial records and computer equipment, came after a complaint filed by the Brussels department of employment mediation service, Orbem.
Scientology had advertised jobs in which it offered people a paid work contract.
It is alleged that those who responded to the ads were merely offerered a volunteer’s contract — a practice some saw as a recruitment tactic.
Belgium considers Scientology to be a sect with commercial purpose.
Reportedly there is a possibility that the ‘job offer’ case will be joined with much larger, 10-year investigation of the cult for fraud and extortion.