An Italian judge on
Thursday ordered seven people to stand trial for participating
in a sect that allegedly sold potions and staged magic rituals
to obtain sexual favours in the southern Italian city of Matera.
Salvatore Maraglino, who was known as "Wizard Sal" is
accused of setting up the sect, which police say was involved in
extortion, fraud, sexual abuse and grooming for prostitution
between 2007 and 2013.
The group often involved its victims in rituals which
included the staging of deceptive tricks to sell "miraculous
potions" and obtain sex, according to investigators.
The first hearing in the main trial was set for January 12,
2016. One of the accused was convicted in a fast-track procedure
and sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.
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