Sex crime charges against the leader of an international
religious organisation must be dismissed over procedural errors, a US appeals
court has ruled.
The La Luz del Mundo (Light of the World) church’s Naasón
Joaquín García faced a number of charges, including child rape and human
trafficking.
Mr García was arrested in California last year and denies
the allegations.
The judges ruled the case should be dropped over a delay in
granting him a hearing after new charges were added.
The appeals court determined on Tuesday that Mr García
should have been given a hearing within 10 days of the new charges, including
child pornography, being filed, AFP reported, but there were delays in the
case. (Text and photo courtesy BBC)
