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Mexican church leader claims he was the victim of a high-tech hit job

California’s Attorney General, Xavier Becerra, appealed for more victims to come forward

English | 10-06-19 | 12:32 | Reuters | Actualizada | 10-06-19 | 12:38 |

Redacción El Universal

The head of a Mexico-based church La Luz del Mundo or The Light of the World in English, charged with multiple sex crimes , including rape of a minor and a woman in Los Angeles, is the victim of false accusations in a “ high-tech hit job ”, according to his attorney.

An attorney for Mexican church leader Naasón Joaquín García defended his client one day after California’s Attorney General, Xavier Becerra , appealed for more victims to come forward.

Following the arrests of Naasón Joaquín García and his co-defendants, we’re asking survivors of sexual abuse to come forward if they have information relevant to the case. Tune in at 11AM: https://t.co/OdNrzcDTko
— Xavier Becerra (@AGBecerra) June 6, 2019

Naasón Joaquín

, whose church claims at least 5 million followers worldwide and calls him “ the Apostle of Jesus ”, was arrested along with two women affiliated with the church at Los Angeles International Airport last Monday.

California Attorney General’s Office

[Publicidad]

charged Naasón Joaquín with the rape of a minor, rape of a woman, lewd act upon a child as well as other sex crimes and conspiracy and extortion .

“My client, the apostle, is a victim in this case,” attorney Kenneth Rosenfeld said at a news conference on Friday.

“He is a victim of technology , of a high-tech hit job ,” Rosenfeld said, referring to the ability to doctor photos and manipulate social media .

[Publicidad]

The investigation began in 2018, in part because of information submitted to the California Department of Justice through a state website set up to report clergy abuse .

In total, Naasón Joaquín and his three co-defendants have been charged with committing 26 felony crimes in Southern California between 2015 and 2018. A criminal complaint said three minors and one adult woman were the victims of sexual crimes .

Naasón Joaquín

[Publicidad]

's bail was set at USD $50 million .

It was the highest ever bail amount imposed in Los Angele s, which prosecutors said reflected fears Naasón Joaquín would raise money from his church followers and flee to Mexico .

La Luz del Mundo

[Publicidad]

claims it has been the victim of hate crimes after its leader was arrested and Becerra called him “ demented ” several times during a press conference .