Judge puts Scientologists in the dock over 'organised fraud' and 'illegally practising as pharmacists'

The case centres on a complaint made in 1998 by a woman who said she was enrolled into the Church by a group of people she met outside a metro station.

She claims she paid £18,000 in exchange for 'purification packs' and books.

Entrance of the Church of Scientology in the 17th district of Paris. Two branches of the church will stand trial for fraud and illegally practising as pharmacists

Judge Jean-Christophe Hullin ruled that the Scientologists' operational centres in France, its Celebrity Centre and its bookstore, along with seven leaders, should be tried for 'organised fraud' and 'illegally practising as pharmacists'.

Actor Tom Cruise is a well know member of the Church of Scientology

The Church of Scientology, which is viewed by French authorities as a cult, denounced the case as 'empty and concocted', adding that the woman had been reimbursed.

The public prosecutor said the case should be shelved but in a relatively rare move, judge Hullin ignored his recommendation and instead ordered the trial, which is not expected to start for at least six months.

The Church of Scientology, which counts actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta among its members, was founded in 1954 by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard.

It has battled in vain for recognition as a religion in France, but has expanded its operations in recent years despite fraud convictions for local officials in Lyon in 1997 and Marseille in 1999.