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Sect obtains High Court order
East Grinstead Courier, 26 April 1984
THE CHURCH of Scientology has obtained a High Court order against a fourth person for the return of documents which it says have been taken from its European headquarters in Denmark.
But local independent Scientologists are hoping that the civil actions will be dropped as a result of the verdict of a Copenhagen court last Wednesday.
The order, issued by the High Court, London, on Friday (April 13), is against Mr Steven Bisbey, a former member of the Church of Scientology, of West Hill, East Grinstead.
"It requires him to return any or all of the documents or copies relating to the teaching or principles of Scientology, taken in December, 1983," said a spokesman at the sect's UK headquarters at Saint Hill Manor, East Grinstead.
Last month the High Court issued similar injunctions against Mrs Morag Bellmaine, also of West Hill, and Mr Ron Lawley, 41 of St James Road, East Grinstead. They were asked to reveal any knowledge they had of the whereabouts of further scriptures or copies.
In the Edinburgh High Court, an Aberdeen woman was also ordered to return the sects scriptures. Earlier police in Aberdeen and East Grinstead had recovered some of the missing documents.
Trespass
The woman's husband was found guilty on Wednesday of illegally entering the Church of Scientology's European headquarters in Copenhagen by a Danish court. He had been awaiting trial in Denmark.
A charge of theft was replaced by one of trespass. The man had ben accused of taking away documents and other papers belonging to the sect.
He said he had not acted for financial gain, but on grounds of conscience. He was given a four month jail sentence with three months suspension. He was banned from re-entry to Denmark for five years.
A man picked up by Swedish police at Stockholm for fraud and tax offences on his return by air from the United States, was found to have documents in his possession believed to be copies of missing Scientology papers.
The international body of the Church of Scientology has offered a reward of £120,000 for information leading to the return of material which includes counselling papers.
Mr Lawley and Mrs Bellmaine say they would like to set up, with others, Scientology counselling courses independent, as opposed to being in opposition, to the established Church of Scientology.
A former member of the sect for five years, Mr Lawley, who describes himself as a professional man, said: "Rightly or wrongly the Church of Scientology tries to monopolise the works of its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, and make them less available by charging very high prices. As much as £400 an hour for 50 to 100 hours can be needed at a certain level called NOTs."
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