March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010
August 2010
September 2010 October 2010
November 2010
December 2010
January 2011
February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011 August 2011 September 2011 October 2011 November 2011 December 2011 January 2012 February 2012 March 2012 April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012 August 2012 September 2012 October 2012 November 2012 December 2012 January 2013 February 2013 March 2013 April 2013 May 2013 June 2013 July 2013 August 2013 September 2013 October 2013 November 2013 December 2013 January 2014 February 2014 March 2014 April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 July 2014 August 2014 September 2014 October 2014 November 2014 December 2014 January 2015 February 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015 December 2015 January 2016 February 2016 March 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 August 2016 September 2016 October 2016 November 2016 December 2016 January 2017 February 2017 March 2017 April 2017 May 2017 June 2017 July 2017 August 2017 September 2017 October 2017 November 2017 December 2017 January 2018 February 2018 March 2018 April 2018 May 2018 June 2018 July 2018 August 2018 September 2018 October 2018 November 2018 December 2018 January 2019 February 2019 March 2019 April 2019 May 2019 June 2019 July 2019 August 2019 September 2019 October 2019 November 2019 December 2019 January 2020 February 2020 March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020 January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 October 2021 November 2021 December 2021 January 2022 February 2022 March 2022 April 2022 May 2022 June 2022 July 2022 August 2022 September 2022 October 2022 November 2022 December 2022 January 2023 February 2023 March 2023 April 2023 May 2023 June 2023 July 2023 August 2023 September 2023 October 2023 November 2023 December 2023 January 2024 February 2024 March 2024
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29
30
31
News Every Day |

Placido Domingo’s name comes up in Argentina sex sect probe

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Opera star Placido Domingo’s name has appeared in an investigation of a sect-like organization in Argentina that also had U.S. offices and whose leaders have been charged with crimes, including sexual exploitation.

Domingo, the Spanish opera singer who has faced accusations of sexual harassment from numerous women over the past three years, has not been accused of any wrongdoing in the Argentina case.

“Placido didn’t commit a crime, nor is he part of the organization, but rather he was a consumer of prostitution,” said a law enforcement official, who spoke only on condition of anonymity because the investigation continues. Prostitution is not illegal in Argentina.

Law enforcement officers have carried out dozens of raids in Buenos Aires targeting the Buenos Aires Yoga School, which “built a cult around its leader” and reduced members to “a situation of slavery and/or sexual exploitation,” according to prosecutors’ documents in the Argentine case against the school.

The organization set up a business structure that included offices in Argentina and the United States, including branches in at least three U.S. cities: Las Vegas, Chicago and New York.

So far, 19 people have been detained in Argentina, while at least three suspects are thought to remain at large inside the South American country and four are being sought in the United States.

Domingo has not spoken publicly about the latest developments and his representatives did not respond to requests for comment.

Wiretaps that were part of the judicial investigation recorded conversations in which a man who authorities identify as Domingo spoke to a member of the group, identified as Susana Mendelievich, about meeting up with the opera star while he was in Buenos Aires for a series of concerts in April.

The investigation into the sect has implicated people with connections to the classical music world and who performed with Domingo in the past, including Mendelievich, an Argentine pianist.

Mendelievich is alleged to be the person in charge of the organization’s sexual exploitation activities, according to a judicial official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity.

In one recording, the man identified as Domingo talks to Mendelievich about how she can go up to his hotel room without being detected by his staff.

“When we leave the dinner we come separately, right?” the man identified as Domingo says in the recording.

Mendelievich then talks to Juan Percowicz, 84, who was the alleged leader of the group.

“He already called me and set up the deal so I can stay in his hotel tonight without his agents realizing,” she said.

In an earlier call with Percowicz, Mendelievich implies she had previously met with Domingo in New York.

“Among other things … Placido said he could come visit us. I mean, visit us means coming to visit me because he comes to my house in New York, and he reminded me of that yesterday,” the woman identified as Mendelievich can be heard saying in the recording.

Sexual trafficking and exploitation were the main sources of income for the group that had an estimated revenue of around $500,000 per month, according to the judicial official.

The Buenos Aires Yoga School had numerous groups of women who were forced to maintain sexual encounters in exchange for money, prosecutors allege. At least seven women were incorporated into the group when they were still children or teenagers and were sexually exploited, according to the prosecution’s documents.

People came from the United States to Argentina to have sex with the women and investigators say women were also transported to neighboring Uruguay and the U.S. for sexual encounters.

“The encounters supposed a practice of sexual slavery because the ‘students’ were put at the disposal of the clients at the time and place they wanted, for long periods of time,” according to the documents.

The organization had ties to other well-known public figures and their names should become public once indictments are made official, the judicial official added.

In addition to alleged sexual exploitation, the group purportedly sold treatments, including what were known as “sleep cures” that involved giving people medication that would make them sleep for days at a time. The organization is said to have also sent psychotropic drugs to the United States.

Percowicz, along with other members of the group, has been arrested under the order of Judge Ariel Lijo, who placed dozens of properties and vehicles under embargo.

The Buenos Aires Yoga School set up a business structure to launder money it obtained through illegal means and take ownership of property that belonged to members once they died, prosecutors said.

The organization had approximately 179 students, all of whom were ranked in seven levels. Advancing levels involved a “spiritual evolution” with the goal of reaching the seventh level that implied “eternal reincarnation.”

In order to advance, members had to participate in numerous courses and carry out tasks, with Percowicz holding the final decision on who could advance. The process involved socially isolating the members from their “biological family” and friends, according to the charging documents.

The organization also offered “philosophical coaching” courses through a separate company, the B.A. Group, for those who had yet to join the school. These courses on subjects like “personal happiness” and “leadership” were often used to woo new members.

The organization was previously under judicial investigation in the early 1990s but the probe was closed before it reached trial.

___

Associated Press writer Jocelyn Gecker in San Francisco contributed to this report.

Source

Единая Россия

«Единая Россия»: Вопросы для «Диктанта Победы» составят ведущие историки

I was diagnosed with cancer aged 39… you are never too rich, too famous or too young, says Dr Philippa Kaye

Top 5 Websites to Watch FREE Movies - TV Shows (No Sign up!)

The 10 Intense New Action Movies on Netflix That Left Me on the Edge of My Seat!

Top 10 Emmanuelle Seigner Movies

Ria.city






Read also

Tottenham keen on former Chelsea ace that Bayern see as Davies replacement

Three-bedroom home sells for $1.6 million in Fremont

VP Harris says US agencies must show their AI tools aren’t harming people’s safety or rights

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

The 10 Intense New Action Movies on Netflix That Left Me on the Edge of My Seat!

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

Top 10 Love Affair Movies of the 2000s and 2010s



Sports today


Новости тенниса
Елена Рыбакина

Рыбакина о том, что не играла в Индиан-Уэллс из-за болезни: «К сожалению, восстановление заняло много времени»



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

Ставропольский гандбольный клуб «Виктора» в Москве уступили армейцам



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

Отставка Кудашова и уход Гусева и Уила: кого «Динамо» рискует потерять после вылета из Кубка Гагарина


Новости России

Game News

Шапки женские на Wildberries — скидки от 398 руб. (на новые оттенки)


Russian.city


Архангельск

В Поморье продолжается комплексная модернизация службы занятости


Губернаторы России
Шапка

Шапки женские на Wildberries — скидки от 398 руб. (на новые оттенки)


Два человека пострадали в ДТП в Новой Москве

Квиз ко дню основания Большого театра опубликовали на портале «Узнай Москву»

Две космические фотовыставки пройдут в музее-заповеднике "Кузьминки-Люблино": Старт 1 апреля

Шапки женские вязаные на Wildberries, 2024 — новый цвет от 392 руб. (модель 466)


Певица Диана Арбенина опубликовала редкое фото матери

Александр Галич. "Облака". Поёт Антон Духовской.

Олег Митяев отменил концерты в Тюмени и Тобольске

Концерт группы «Пикник» в Петербурге начался с минуты молчания о жертвах теракта


Теннисистка Касаткина отреагировала на высказывания Винер о россиянах

«Бомж» Дарья передает всем привет»: Касаткина ответила на слова Винер

Хачанов победил Черундоло и пробился в 1/8 финала турнира ATP в Майами

Азаренко вышла в полуфинал турнира WTA-1000 в Майами



Выпуск ЦФА на платформе «Атомайз» поможет снизить нагрузку на экологию

Всем по местам: в России назвали топ благополучных регионов

Заказать недорогой ремонт кухонной мебели в районе в Москве и Московской области

Каждый пятый российский зумер планирует переехать из города-миллионника в Москву


Преподаватель ХГУ Валентина Тугужекова подготовила более 40 учёных

Концерт "Crush string quartet "с программой «Мировые рок - хиты»

Грязная азербайджанская пропаганда на трагедии россиян

Собянин: Москва не потеряла в больницах ни одного жителя столицы после теракта


Форум «Управдом» пройдет в Лобне 28 марта

Пастыря из Хабаровского края -похитителя ребенка американцы выдали России

Юрист Билялова: отпуск в 2024 году выгодно брать в июле и октябре

Шольц: США знали о подготовке теракта в России



Путин в России и мире






Персональные новости Russian.city
Аранжировка

Аранжировка Песен. Аранжировка Музыки. Создание Аранжировок.



News Every Day

Top 10 Emmanuelle Seigner Movies




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости