http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/world/france-scientology.html
September 9, 1999
Loss of Scientology Files Studied
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MARSEILLE, France -- The Justice Ministry opened an investigation on
Wednesday into the destruction of three tons of evidence that was to
have been used in a trial of officials of the Church of Scientology.
The prosecutor's office here said in a statement that the disposal of
certain sealed files late last year was a result of a court clerk's
negligence, not an intentional act. But Justice Minister Elisabeth
Guigou said the "malfunction" would be investigated.
France has long had a contentious relationship with the Church of
Scientology, which is trying to be recognized as a legitimate religion
in Europe. France registers the organization on a list of 173 groups
that should be tracked to prevent cult activities.
An appeals court in Paris is widely expected to rule on Sept. 29 in a
similar case against the Church of Scientology in which evidence also
disappeared.
The documents in the latest case relate to an investigation that
opened in 1990.
The group's leaders in Marseille and Nice were investigated for fraud,
the illegal practice of medicine and premeditated violence. Seven
leaders are scheduled to go on trial on Sept. 20. The loss of the
evidence will not delay the trial, which was delayed in 1995 because
of a procedural error, court officials said.
According to a lawyer for the plaintiff, a former member of the group,
the lost evidence includes financial statements, notes about members
and devices called electrometers that are supposed to measure
self-control. The lawyer, Jean-Michel Pesenti, raised doubts about the
court's contention that the files were accidentally destroyed.
"We can imagine anything," Pesenti said. "Why not an
infiltration by Scientology?"
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