AN international Church of Scientology figure accused of coaching a child to lie about sex abuse has been charged for a second time.
Janice Meyer, 57, appeared in a Sydney court in June last year accused of perverting the course of justice in 1985.
The allegation was that Meyer, who also goes by the name Jan Eastgate, threatened and intimidated an 11-year-old girl into providing false information to police about being abused by a Scientologist.
A court spokesman said another offence relating to perverting the course of justice was heard at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court yesterday.
The matter will be back in court on April 24 and a two-day committal hearing will begin on May 15.
Meyer is an Australian citizen who has lived in the US since 1993.
During her first court appearance, her bail was relaxed so she could travel to California.
Meyer holds a position with the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, an organisation founded by the Church of Scientology to campaign against psychiatry.
From the Sydney Morning Herald – June 17 2011
IT was a rare and at times dramatic public appearance by one of the most senior members of a global religious organisation that shrouds itself in secrecy.
Surrounded by supporters, senior Scientologist Janice Meyer arrived at the Downing Centre Local Court yesterday, accused of pressuring an 11-year-old girl to lie about sex abuse within the church.
Ms Meyer, who also goes by the name Jan Eastgate, left with relaxed bail restrictions that will allow her to travel to and from her home in California.
The 57-year-old head of the church’s ”Citizens Commission on Human Rights” was charged last month with perverting the course of justice over the 1985 incident. She allegedly told the 11-year-old she should deny any charges of sexual abuse, allegedly committed by her stepfather, to police and officers from the Department of Social Services.
According to ABC TV’s Lateline program, the young girl’s mother was also allegedly pressured to lie to the authorities. The program reported that the child was told by other senior members of the church that the abuse was punishment for being bad in a previous life.
Ms Meyer has previously called the allegations ”egregiously false” but has not commented since being charged.
The police prosecutor opposed the application for unrestricted bail yesterday, telling the court that the alleged conduct involved ”a gross breach of trust” in relation to a child.
But Ms Meyer’s lawyer, Stuart Bouveng, told the court that she had been a resident of California since 1993 where she has ”a significant business and employs a number of employees”.
”There is no evidence at all that your honour would have any fears she would not show up at court,” he said.
Magistrate Graeme Henson lifted the travel restriction but imposed an order that Ms Meyer must pay $10,000 if she fails to turn up at the next hearing on August 18.
At least a dozen supporters sat with Ms Meyer in court and formed a protective circle around her when she left, forcing their way through the waiting media – pushing and elbowing aside their cameras and microphones.
Ms Meyer is the global head of the CCHR, a group which works to discredit conventional psychiatric treatment of all kinds, including the use of medications such as Ritalin and Prozac.
She was the recipient of the church’s Freedom Medal for her work with the organisation.
