The combat in opposition to marabout scams should intensify, pleads an elected Lausanne official

If the variety of circumstances could appear modest, it’s above all of the sum to which these damages relate that challenges: 150,000 francs in whole for the 15 circumstances, i.e. an quantity which, per sufferer, can show to be very substantial.

Furthermore, for the Vaudois police, these circumstances symbolize solely the tip of the iceberg. The phenomenon is definitely extra essential as a result of some victims don’t dare to file a criticism. They’re silent as a result of they’re ashamed and even out of worry that the motion of the marabout will not be efficient.

The culprits of those scams current themselves as clairvoyants or mediums. In keeping with the police, they’re of African origin and are available primarily from France. They make contact through posters slipped into mailboxes, however now additionally by web sites. As for the cost, it usually must be despatched overseas.

In authorized phrases, these individuals are normally charged with usury and fraud.

Convey again the beloved one

The victims are primarily ladies in a state of emotional misery and who usually name on these marabouts to deliver again their beloved one.

In an effort to keep away from getting caught up in a cycle of infinite funds, the police suggest avoiding sending massive sums of cash to a marabout, and in any case not more than the worth of a typical session within the area of clairvoyance, i.e. a couple of hundred francs.

A standard level with sectarian aberrations

Confronted with these rising scams, what can the political authorities do? Benoît Gaillard, socialist municipal councilor in Lausanne, urges them to open their eyes to the phenomenon. He requires extra prevention and repression on the a part of the general public authorities, particularly the Metropolis of Lausanne, and can quickly file a second interpellation with the Municipal Council.

“There’s a frequent level between maraboutage and sectarian aberrations, it’s the phenomenon of affect. We enter the method to hunt benefits after which we notice that leaving this course of will deliver disadvantages. We begin to inform you: ‘if you happen to depart, you are going to have issues'”, explains the elected Thursday within the 12:30 p.m.

Draw pink traces

For him, the truth that notably susceptible individuals are focused requires a response from the authorities, particularly since, in France and in German-speaking Switzerland, these practices are acknowledged by the general public authorities as being on the rise. “Within the midst of this, in French-speaking Switzerland, we are likely to ignore the query of sects or these practices [de maraboutage] which may go so far as fraud or coercion”, he regrets.

As with cults vis-à-vis conventional religions, the road is usually tough to attract between, for instance, well-established clairvoyants or healers and outright scams. “It is clearly sophisticated, however confronted with a sophisticated query, you’ll be able to both quit (…), or attempt to present some pink traces. There, these are actions the place the chance, then, of tipping into one thing legal is larger than elsewhere. It requires qualifying and framing these practices otherwise”, pleads Benoît Gaillard.

These are actions the place the chance, then, of falling into one thing legal is larger than elsewhere. It requires qualifying them and framing them otherwise

It units out three priorities: documenting the phenomenon, doing prevention within the face of the chance offered by sectarian aberrations and eventually supervising, monitoring and maybe limiting sure practices.

>> Take heed to the interview of Benoît Gaillard within the 12:30 of the RTS Thursday:

Topic and radio interview: Martine Clerc and Yann Amedro

Internet adaptation: Vincent Cherpillod