Scientologist gets a human shield for court appearance
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/scientologist-gets-a-human-shield-for-court-appearance/story-e6frg6nf-1226076678302
More than 30 supporters of high-ranking Scientologist Janice Meyer formed a shield around her to protect her from the media as she left a Sydney courtroom yesterday after being accused of covering up child sexual abuse allegations.
Ms Meyer, 57, is facing one count of perverting the course of justice in relation to allegations from 1985 that she told an 11-year-old victim of indecent assault not to report the abuse to police. She was head of the Australian arm of the Scientologists Citizens Commission on Human Rights, a group that advocates against psychiatry, at the time.
Her barrister, Stuart Bouveng, yesterday applied to Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court for her bail conditions to be revoked.
Chief Magistrate Graeme Henson agreed that the conditions, which forbid Ms Meyer from travelling overseas and interstate, were "somewhat perplexing" and that bail should not be used as a "punishing" measure.
Mr Bouveng told the court Ms Meyer came to Australia voluntarily from the US, where she is now based, to be interviewed by police about the allegations. She had business interests and a mortgage in the US and worked with the CCHR in California.
If she did not enter that country for a period of time, her green card could be revoked.
Mr Bouveng said the bail restrictions prevented her from going back to the US or to Victoria to see her elderly parents, brother and extended family.
Mr Henson lifted the bail conditions and ordered her to pay a $10,000 surety.
The matter will next be heard on August 18.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/scientologist-gets-a-human-shield-for-court-appearance/story-e6frg6nf-1226076678302
More than 30 supporters of high-ranking Scientologist Janice Meyer formed a shield around her to protect her from the media as she left a Sydney courtroom yesterday after being accused of covering up child sexual abuse allegations.
Ms Meyer, 57, is facing one count of perverting the course of justice in relation to allegations from 1985 that she told an 11-year-old victim of indecent assault not to report the abuse to police. She was head of the Australian arm of the Scientologists Citizens Commission on Human Rights, a group that advocates against psychiatry, at the time.
Her barrister, Stuart Bouveng, yesterday applied to Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court for her bail conditions to be revoked.
Chief Magistrate Graeme Henson agreed that the conditions, which forbid Ms Meyer from travelling overseas and interstate, were "somewhat perplexing" and that bail should not be used as a "punishing" measure.
Mr Bouveng told the court Ms Meyer came to Australia voluntarily from the US, where she is now based, to be interviewed by police about the allegations. She had business interests and a mortgage in the US and worked with the CCHR in California.
If she did not enter that country for a period of time, her green card could be revoked.
Mr Bouveng said the bail restrictions prevented her from going back to the US or to Victoria to see her elderly parents, brother and extended family.
Mr Henson lifted the bail conditions and ordered her to pay a $10,000 surety.
The matter will next be heard on August 18.
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