The church’s main centre in France, the ASES-Celebrity Centre, its bookshop and six of its leaders were charged on Monday with organised fraud and illegally prescribing drugs.

One former church member claimed she had been psychologically pressured into paying thousands of pounds for lessons, books, drugs and a device called an “electrometre”, which the church says can measure a person’s mental state but which the prosecution said was “nothing more than a lure”.

The case, alleging organised fraud, including claims of illegally prescribing drugs, follows complaints from the country’s professional pharmaceutical association and two women who accuse Scientologists of causing their financial ruin.

Aude-Claire Malton was allegedly approached by Scientologists in a Paris street in 1998 and offered a personality test, which prosecutors described as “void of scientific value”.

The Scientologists’ sole aim, they argued, was to “claim their fortune” by “exercising a psychological hold” over her.

The 33-year old was allegedly gradually persuaded to hand over around £20,000 on books, communication and “life healing” lessons, as well as “purification packs”.

The church prescribed large amounts of vitamins and “interminable” sauna sessions, the aim of which was to plunge Miss Malton into a state of “extreme fatigue” and “submission”, they said.

Within weeks, she had emptied her savings and life insurance accounts. When she could withdraw no more, the church put her in touch with a loan company and her supervisor accompanied her home “to get a cheque book, late at night and practically in the street” – a clear sign of “harassment”.

The six defendants, including Alain Rosenberg, 60, the manager of the ASES-Celebrity Centre, face a maximum million-euro fine and ten year jail term if convicted. The church itself faces a five million-euro fine and closure.

The case has taken ten years to come to court.

Scientology is not banned in France but is considered a sect.

It is a recognised religion in the United States, where it was founded in 1954 by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. Followers include Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and John Travolta.

This is the only second time the church itself has been targeted in France – all other trials have been of individuals.

Three other former Scientologists retracted their complaints after reportedly reaching an out-of-court financial settlement with the church.

One reportedly received 33,000 euros (£29,000).

The Church of Scientology said: “It’s a trial for heresy: this could only happen in France…Let people choose their own path.” The body’s lawyer, Patrick Maisonneuve, said that all organisations contained “lost sheep” - including the Catholic Church - but “the only question in this trial is: was there embezzlement - certainly not whether Scientology is a religion or not”.

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