French Tantric Sex Guru Faces Charges for Raping a Minor
ByGabriel Loison, 73, the founder of the 'University of Nature, Ecology and Relationships,' in France, has been charged with the rape and corruption of a 14-year-old minor; rape and sexual assault of a 30-year-old woman and faces an additional charge of taking advantage of both victims' weakness.
Loison's former partner Julie Baschet, 39, is also charged for acting as his co-conspirator in the rape of the teen and joining Loison in raping and sexually assaulting the older victim, and with the aggravated charge.
Loison and Baschet were arrested in Spain in March, 2011. The trial, which was to take place this week, has been postponed to January next year to allow over 40 witnesses to give evidence. Baschet's lawyers have also requested for psychiatric reports, alleging that she was under Loison's influence.
The so-called sex guru established the 'University' in 1996 and conducted courses in tantric and group sex at two houses in France, and Spain. Loison charged his followers up to $18,300 for three to ten-week retreats to western France, Spain, Morocco and Costa Rica.
Among his devotees were the parents of the 14-year-old girl, now aged 17, who took part in the sect's 'internships'. The family filed the complaint over the alleged rape to French police in 2010.
Loison's previous group 'Jardins de la Vie' was banned in 1995 after being listed as a cult by the French parliamentary committee. He is also facing rape charges from three other accusers.