Charges Dropped for Scientologist

By Janet Fife-Yeomans
Daily Telegraph
April 24, 2012

www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/charges-dropped-for-scientologist/story-e6freuy9-1226337017187

High-ranking Scientologist Jan Eastgate.

PROSECUTORS this morning dropped charges of perverting the course of justice against one of the leading members of the Church of Scientology, Jan Eastgate.

Downing Centre Local Court was given no reasons for the decision behind the withdrawal of the charges that alleged Ms Eastgate had intimidated a then 11-year-old young girl and her mother who wanted to report sexual abuse allegations within the church back in 1985.

Ms Eastgate, who was instrumental in revealing the horrors of deep sleep therapy at the former Chelmsford Hospital in Sydney's north in the 1980s, is international president of the Scientology-linked Citizens Commission on Human Rights, which attacks psychology.

Now based in Los Angeles where she counts Tom Cruise and John Travolta among her friends, Ms Eastgate released a statement to The Daily Telegraph.

"I have always maintained my innocence," Ms Eastgate said.

She has worked overseas since 1993.

"This outcome means I can concentrate on my work to assist people in need of help both in Australia and overseas through the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, a group that investigates psychiatric-pharmaceutical conflicts of interest and human rights abuse," Ms Eastgate said.

The girl's stepfather has since pleaded guilty to the abuse of the girl.

The charges against Ms Eastgate were laid by police in the wake of independent senator Nick Xenophon's calls for an inquiry into the Church of Scientology.