By: EFE 06 from January 2021
With the selection process of the jury of 12 members began this Wednesday in Los Angeles the trial against Naasón Joaquín García , leader of the church La Luz del Mundo (LLDM) , which faces more than three dozen charges that include rape, sexual abuse and lewd acts with minors.
Joaquín García, of 51 years, faces 19 felony charges including Forced rape of a minor , Forced oral copulation of a minor, illegal sexual relations , lewd act with a child and conspiracy and possession of child pornography , as well as other charges for crimes related to the abuse of his position as leader of the religious movement of Mexican origin.
Today’s hearing is considered prior and the next one was scheduled for 10 February At today’s hearing, held at the Criminal Justice Center of Los Angeles , Judge Ronald Coen reiterated some limitations to the way the trial will be conducted.
Thus, the number of cameras allowed as well as the number of media representatives, and jurors were advised that they may have to examine photos of child pornography, among other restrictions.
The maximum leader of LLDM, whom his followers call “the Apostle”, is being tried jointly with Susana Medina Oaxaca, who is accused of being his accessory to the charges of sexual abuse of minors.
At the end of December of 2020, the Mexican authorities filed complaints for money laundering against five religious groups in Mexico, among which according to local media is the organization led by Joaquín.
Alondra Ocampo , of 37 years, accused of more than 20 serious crimes and considered the main accomplice of the religious leader, pleaded guilty to four counts in October 2020. His sentencing hearing was scheduled for the next 22 of April. Her lawyer Fred Thiagarajah argued that Ocampo herself had been a victim of sexual abuse and that she was raped by Samuel Joaquín Flores, Naasón’s father.
In February 2020, Sochil Martín , a former LLDM member in Los Angeles who is among the witnesses in the criminal case, filed a legal action against 10 members of the church, including Naasón Joaquín.
The lawsuit argues that Martín, from 33 years, she was recruited at the age of nine and became a “sex slave” for both Naasón Joaquín and her father, former leader of the church.
“During my first 30 years of life taught me to believe that my body, mind, and soul belonged to The Light of l World because that was God’s will, “said Martín at the press conference in which he announced the lawsuit.
” I denounce him today because this has to end. Generations of children raised in La Luz del Mundo have been forced to become sexual servants of the apostles of La Luz del Mundo ”, he stated.
>> La Luz del Mundo: Sochil Martin, the young woman who sued the church leader after serving as his “recruiter” >> The case against “the apostle” of La Luz del Mundo continues and the judge refuses to dismiss charges for rape of a minor >> One of the accused of the La Luz del Mundo church sex trafficking case pleads guilty Despite being imprisoned and accused by the US prosecutor’s office, Joaquín García has continued to maintain the support of his church . In a statement on its Twitter page on January 3 under the heading of Doctrinal Issues, the organization asked that its right to believe in its top leader be respected.
” We, the members of the La Luz del Mundo church, believe that Naasón Joaquín García is a Servant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, and HE has taught us to worship God and his son Jesus Christ ”, said LLDM.
The Mexican religious leader, arrested at the Los Angeles airport on June 3, 2019 and who also possesses US citizenship, continues in jail by declaring that he cannot pay his $ 90 millions of dollars.
The accusations against Joaquín García allege that he used the help of the three collaborators, members of LLDM, to recruit minors and convince them to take nude photos or with suggestive clothes and perform zaran provocative dances. Some of those minors ended up being sexually abused by the religious chief, according to the accusation.
Medina Oaxaca, from 22 years, is on probation after posting a bond of $ 150, 000 Dollars. A fourth defendant, Azalea Rangel Meléndez, is a fugitive from justice.
The non-Trinitarian Christian church La Luz del Mundo, which has its international headquarters in Guadalajara, Mexico, was founded in 1926 by Aarón Joaquín, Naasón’s grandfather. It is currently present in 60 countries and claims to have up to 5 million followers.
By Luis Uribe