Scientology Boss Gets Jail Term
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POSTAGE: InUntf 9Jp Oversea* 12Jp Wednesday, February 22, 1978 No. 1589 SCIENTOLOGY BOSS GETS Hill Manor in 1959, was banned RON L. Hubbard, the from re-entering Britain in American born founder August. 1968. by the then Home of the Church of Secretary and Minister of Health of the day who stated in Scientology, who turned JAIL TERM the Commons that the Saint Hill Manor, East Go>ernmcnt was satisfied Grinstead, into the world outside territorial waters off the It found that the Church made Scientology was socially headquarters of the Bahamas. fraudulent promises to heal harmful. The case against him was mental or other illnesses and to I'nder pressure, the movement, was sentenced brought by the French Public make would-be members more Government some three years in his absence to four Prosecutor. financially successful; ! life. later set up an inquiry into the years in prison and fined M. Georges Andrews, Prospective memWrs w ere movement under Sir John RONHIBBARD 35,000 Francs for fraud President of the French branch induced to pay fur courses at a Foster, who subsequently ON MONDAY Scientologists of the Church, said to have ratC much higher than the recommended that the ban on demonstrated in front of the by the Paris Criminal 10.000 members, was given a courses were worth, the court foreign Scientologists be lifted. French Embassy. Representa Court last week. suspended prison term of one found. The Government is still tives delivered a Utter to the The court has issued a warrant year and fined 3.000 Francs, The court did not pronounce refusing entry into the country of French Ambassador to Britain for the arrest of f I uboard, who is The Court said the Church of on the religious or philosophical aliens who wish to study or work for forwarding to the French in his sixties and began the Scientology was a commercial base of the Church, which has in Scientology, despite President. It called for an movement in 1952. Meisihougbt enterprise which "Through about two million members strenuous efforts by the investigation of the French legal to live on a Panamanian fanciful and misleading throughout the world. movement to bring about a system of trial in 'absentia'. registered yacht, cruising promises duped third parties." Hubbard, who bought Saint change of mind. Category Newspaper Article Title Scientology Boss gets Jail Term Source “East Grinstead Courier” Author Date February 22nd, 1978 Contents: On Monday Scientologists demonstrated in front of the French Embassy. Representatives delivered a letter to the French Ambassador to Britain for forwarding to the French President. It called for an investigation of the French legal system of trial in ‘absentia.’ Ron L. Hubbard, the American born founder of the Church of Scientology, who turned Saint Hill Manor, East Grinstead, into the world headquarters of the movement, was sentenced in his absence to four years in prison and fined 35,000 Francs for fraud by the Paris Criminal Court last week. The court has issued a warrant for the arrest of Hubbard, who is in his sixties and began the movement in 1952. He is thought to live on a Panamanian registered yacht, cruising outside territorial waters off the Bahamas. The case against him was brought by the French Public Prosecutor. M. Georges Andrews, President of the French branch of the Church, said to have 10,000 members, was given a suspended prison term of one year and fined 3,000 Francs. The Court said the Church of Scientology was a commercial enterprise which “Through fanciful and misleading promises duped third parties.” It found that the Church made fraudulent promises to heal mental or other illnesses and to make would-be members more financially successful in life. Prospective members were induced to pay for courses at a rate much higher than the courses were worth, the court found. The court did not pronounce on the religious or philosophical base of the Church, which has about two million members throughout the world. Hubbard, who bought Saint Hill Manor in 1959, was banned from re-entering Britain in August, 1968, by the then Home Secretary and Minister of Health of the day who stated in the Commons that the Government was satisfied Scientology was socially harmful. Under pressure, the Government some three years later set up an inquiry into the movement under Sir John Foster, who subsequently recommended that the ban on foreign Scientologists be lifted. The Government is still refusing entry into the country of aliens who wish to study or work in Scientology, despite strenuous efforts by the movement to bring about a change of mind. East Grinstead Courier THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 1983 SCIENTOLOGISTS THE ANNOUNCEMENT that the Scientologists have kick I DON'T THINK ed out 12 key members of their UK headquarters staff at Saint Hill Manor, East IT WILL WORK' Grinstead, as part of a policy change, has received a mixed reception in the town. SAYS VICAR East Grinstead's The "excommunications", for The Scientologists say the misconduct, follow an internal movement, as defined by its mayor Cr Ray Boulger investigation prompted by the founder, Mr Ron Hubbard, at said that if the Scien conviction and imprisonment ol least 20 years ago, was to use senior Scientologists in the legal means only as a last resort tologists were ge United States and to maintain friendly relations with the environment and public. nuinely trying to Several other staff in the Guar The Guardian's Office, which said that if The Scien conviction and imprisonment of least 20 years ago, was to use seiiioi Scientologists in the legal means only as a last resort tologists were ge United States and to maintain friendly relations nuinely trying to Several other staff in the Guar with the environment and public. purge themselves, dian's office at East Grinstead The Guardian's Office, which have been moved to other posi at one point had a staff ol about then it was in tions. The expulsion of the 12 40. was closed this year when everyone's interests was recommended by Mrs Edith the last expulsion happened. The Buchele, the movement's new international side of the Church to try to promote bet external affairs director in Bri of Scientology at East Grinstead ter relations. tain, after she uncovered what had now been transferred to Los she describes as "a complete Angeles. The original "open But the Rev Roger mess". policy" which had been taken Brown, vicar of St out by the 12 has been restored, Charges against the 12 includ a sect spokesman claimed this Swithun's parish church, ed misuse of funds to launch a week. East Grinstead, said the series of libel actions, particularly Mr Mike Garside, public affairs history of the sect showed against British newspapers but officer for the movement, said that it just shifted ground also against Scotland Yard and the announcement had come at the Departmenr of Health and the end of process which had 1/2 when the public seemed Social Security. been going on for about 2 not favourably disposed years. They had wanted to make It was also alleged that one sure the church and its external towards it. senior member of the Guardian's "I don't think the image- office staff had falsely claimed to changing will work," he said. be a barrister. •Turn to Page 39 THE team that stays - Mrs Edith Buchele, the new external affairs director (centre) of the UK headquarters of the Scientology movement at Saint Hill Manor, East Grinstead, pictured with other staff at Saint Hill. On the left is Mr Mike Garside, the movement's public affairs officer, iind Cnthy Sproule, diroctor officio! affairs. On the right is Mr Robert Sfiringall, director of piihiig affair*, and Barbara Bradley, public affairs assistant. In tho background can be seen the "castle" complex used for counselling, administration and as a study centre East Grinstead Courier CCQDIIARFEBRUARYY 9,'« 19819R44 Price 13P MEMBERS. QUIT IN 'DISCONNECTION' PROTEST Sect row over POLICY ROW policy public affairs officer at the Scien •From Page One tologists' UK headquarters at Saint Hill Manor, East Grinstead, International for personal said he thought the two doctor* AT LEAST 10 leading local members of reasons. We endorse and are in were taking the whole matter full agreement with the much too seriously. the East Grinstead-based Church of phloaophy of Scientology and teachings of L Ron Hubbard. "Local members of the church Scientology have resigned from the did get upset with them because sect over policy differences, it was "Because we are fully aware they were obviously in disagree that Mr Hubbard's writings en ment with the church. We are courage the unity of the family disclosed this week. we cannot tolerate a sure the doctors' differences can misrepresentation or misapplica- be resolved if they contact us." It is understood that the resignations tion of them that encourage* Mr Garside said: "About 2.000 follow disquiet over the reintroduction of otherwise." Scientologists are living in and Dr Davies of Portland Road, around East Grinstead and I "disconnection" practices whereby church East Grinstead. said the state know most of them end there are members are advised to completely severe ment summed up in a nutshell no problems, believe me. the reasons for their resignation. "There have been a couple of relations with fellow members. people over here from the Stat** to sort out any upsets hanging These policies were abandoned for a time in 1968. Concerned around. I know they have been It is alleged that these discon "We ere in full agreement with bending over backwards to son nection policies ere now beck in the philosophy of Scientology out what might be upsetting hj« force since a r»ew poScy and the fact that we have resign anyone.