Three men were arrested in Turin
Tuesday for organising seances in which the group rape of an
underage student took place, police said.
A self-styled 'magician', 69, and his accomplices, a
74-year-old man and a 22-year-old man, were arrested by Turin
flying squad on suspicion of group rape.
The girl was drugged and raped during the seances, she told
police.
A probe is continuing to see if there were other victims.
The magician was identified as Paolo Meraglia, a retired
teacher.
The man, by claiming esoteric powers, allegedly persuaded the
girl she was the victim of strong negative elements that meant
she had to be purified.
The rites consisted in sexual acts, also in a group, under
the influence of drugs in an attic in Turin's San Donato
district and in the magician's house on the southern outskirts
of Turin.
Police also arrested Biagino Viotti, 74, and the 22-year-old
boyfriend of the girl.
Investigators said they had uncovered the existence of a
hierarchically organised group with the 'Master' at the head of
it, the 'Apostle', the 'Vestal Virgin', the 'Catalysers' and the
'Handmaiden'.
Police, who said they could not rule out there being other
female victims, are weighing whether to proceed against others
who allegedly took part in the rites.
The investigation was prompted by a complaint from the
student, judicial sources said.
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