Giving evidence before the Brussels Court of Appeal, on Tuesday, a female member of the Buddhist community, Ogyen Kunsang Choling (OKC), said, “If I had had children, I would have entrusted them to the Château-de-Soleils estate.” She said, “The part of my life spent at Château-de-Soleils was happy.” The OKC, and its Spiritual Leader are Robert Spatz, are appearing before the court for financial offences, non-compliance with employment legislation and incidents relating to child hostage-taking.
Taking the stand as a witness, a former female member of the OKC, said, “I was born at Château-de-Soleils and I lived there with my parents until aged 4. I then lived there without them until I reached 16, but they visited me except for during the period where I was between aged 8 and 12 years, because they were themselves on spiritual retreat.”
Between 1980 and 2000, children of members of the OKC, the Buddhist community established in Brussels, were sent to the Château-de-Soleils estate, in Castellane, Provence, without their parents. They were both educated and lived there, specifically taught by member teachers and educators within the OKC.
As indicated above, the witness said, “If I had had children, I would have entrusted them to the Château-de-Soleils estate.” She went on, “The part of my life spent at Château-de-Soleils was happy. I am very grateful for the education that I had there.”
The Buddhist community, Ogyen Kunsang Choling (OKC), and its spiritual leader Robert Spatz, are appearing before the court accused of financial offences, non-compliance with employment legislation and incidents relating to taking to child hostage-taking. Spatz is also accused of sexual abuse of girls and women who were members of the OKC.
The Brussels Times
