LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The leader of a Mexican-based church that claims over 1 million followers worldwide was ordered on Thursday to remain held on $90 million, nearly double his original bail, on newly expanded charges of rape, human trafficking and child pornography.
The ruling virtually assures that Naason Joaquin Garcia, the head and self-styled apostle of the evangelical church La Luz del Mundo (Light of the World), will remain in custody as he awaits trial. The decision to raise his bond from $50 million came four months after the original case against him was dismissed by an appeals court on technical grounds.
(Reporting by Norma Galeana in Los Angeles; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Leslie Adler)
