Paris, France - The Paris public prosecutor's office has demanded that a court trying the French section of the controversial Church of Scientology for organized fraud order the dissolution of the self-styled religion, Paris media reported Tuesday. In addition to demanding the dissolution of the headquarters of the church - the Church of Scientology-Celebrity Centre - and its bookshop, prosecutors also demanded they each pay a fine of 2 million euros (2.78 million dollars).
The court was also asked to hand down stiff fines against six Scientology officials on trial as well as suspended sentences of up to four years in prison for four of the accused, including the founder of the Celebrity Centre, Alain Rosenberg.
The case is based on complaints filed by two women in December 1998 and July 1999.
One of the plaintiffs spent the equivalent of more than 20,000 euros on various courses and products the church offers to its adherents. The second plaintiff said she was forced by her boss, a Scientologist, to take part in a church course before being fired.
The verdict is expected to be announced in several weeks.