Article Author:
Associated Press
Daniel Politi, Almudena Calatrava and Leonardo La Valle
Buenos Aires, Argentina (AP) — Opera star Placido Domingo's name appears in sect-like survey An Argentinian organization that also has offices in the United States and whose leaders have been charged with crimes, including sexual exploitation.
Spanish opera singer Domingo, who has been accused of sexual harassment by numerous women over the past three years, was not accused of wrongdoing in the Argentine case.
"Placido did not commit a crime, was not part of an organization, but rather was a consumer of prostitution," said a law enforcement official, who declined to be named as the investigation continues. I spoke on the condition that Prostitution is not illegal in Argentina.
Law enforcement officers conducted dozens of raids in Buenos Aires, targeting the Buenos Aires Yoga School. The Buenos Aires Yoga School "built a cult around its leader" and reduced its members to "slavery and slavery situations." and/or sexual exploitation," according to prosecutor's documents in the Argentine lawsuit against the school.
built a business structure including offices in
So far, 19 of her people are in custody in Argentina, but at least three of her suspects are believed to be at large in South America, and four are believed to be at large in the United States. is being investigated.
Domingo has not spoken publicly about the latest developments, and his representative did not respond to a request for comment.
Part of a judicial investigation An eavesdropper recorded a conversation between a man, whom authorities identify as Domingo, and a member of the group, identified as Susana Mendelievich, about his encounter with opera. Star when in Buenos Aires for a series of concerts in April.
A sectarian investigation found the involvement of people with ties to the classical music world who had performed with Domingo in the past, including the Argentinian pianist Mendelievich.
Mendeliewicz is said to be responsible for the organization's sexual exploitation activities, according to a judicial source who also spoke on condition of anonymity.
In one recording, a man identified as Domingo tells Mendelievich how he managed to get into his hotel room without being spotted by staff.
"You'll come separately after dinner, won't you?" a man identified as Domingo said in the recording.
Mendeliewicz then speaks with her 84-year-old Juan Perkowicz, the alleged leader of the group.
"He had already called me and signed a contract so he could stay at his hotel tonight without his agent noticing," she said. .
In an earlier phone call with Percowicz, Mendelievich hinted that he had previously met with Domingo in New York.
"Among other things... Placido said he could visit us. By visiting us, he meant visiting me because he would come to my house in New York, and he I was reminded of that yesterday," the woman identified as Mendeliewicz can be heard saying in the recording.
Sex trafficking, according to law enforcement officials. and exploitation were the group's primary source of income, which had an estimated income of about $500,000 per month.
Buenos Aires Her yoga Her school had a number of groups of women who were forced to maintain sexual relationships in exchange for money, prosecutors allege. there is At least seven women were recruited into groups and sexually exploited when they were still children or teenagers, according to prosecutorial documents. I came to Investigators said the women were also transported to neighboring Uruguay and the United States for sexual intercourse.
According to the document, "the 'students' assumed the practice of sexual slavery because they were placed at their disposal for long periods of time and where and when the client desired." Says.
The organization has ties to other prominent figures whose names should be made public once the charges are formally filed, judicial officials added.
In addition to allegations of sexual exploitation, the group sells treatments that include so-called "sleep therapy," which involves administering drugs that make people sleep for days. It is said that The organization is also said to have sent psychotropic drugs to the United States.
Percowicz, along with other members of the group, were arrested on the orders of Judge Ariel Riho, who embargoed numerous property and vehicles.
The Buenos Aires Yoga School set up a business structure to launder illegally obtained money and take ownership of members' property when they died, prosecutors said. rice field.
There were approximately 179 students in this organization, all ranked in his seven levels. To progress through the levels required a "spiritual evolution" with the goal of reaching the 7th level, which means "eternal reincarnation".
In order to be promoted, members had to attend numerous courses and perform tasks, and Percowicz made the final decision on who could be promoted. The process involved socially isolating members from their "biological family" and friends, according to billing documents.
This organization is also her B.A. pre-enrollment group, another company. These courses on subjects such as "personal well-being" and "leadership" were often used to attract new members.
The organization was under judicial investigation in his early 1990s, but the investigation was closed before it reached trial.
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Her AP Her writer Jocelyn Gecker of San Francisco contributed to this report.
