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)