Federal Police arrest religious cult leaders who enslaved devotees

Six religious cult leaders were arrested on Monday (Aug. 17) by the Federal Police in the states of Minas Gerais, São Paulo and Bahia. They are suspected of maintainting followers in conditions analogous to slavery and of keeping the victims' assets.

According to the Federal Police, the devotees attended a church based in São Paulo and were convinced to join the religious cult in Minas Gerais. The suspects approached emotionally fragile people and asked them to transfer all their assets to the institution.

Under the argument of cohabiting in a community where "everything would be for everyone," the followers were forced to work without payment. Investigators estimate that the assets received as donations surmount $28 million.

In addition to the imprisonments, police executed six search-and-seizure warrants and 70 seizure warrants, involving real estate, cars and cash. The suspects will be on temporary detention for five days but the period in prison can be extended. They may respond to crimes of  keeping workers in conditions analogous to slavery, human trafficking, embezzlement, organized crime, forgery and money laundering.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta