A yoga instructor from Bucharest is accused of rape and human trafficking. The victims were allegedly abused by being forced to produce and broadcast pornographic materials on video chat channels.
The „spiritual master” recruited eight women, whom he sexually exploited, thus obtaining 1.4 million euros, according to the Bucharest Police.
Eugen Mirtz was a student of Gregorian Bivolaru.
Investigators are conducting 13 searches in Bucharest in this case involving charges of organized criminal group, human trafficking, and rape.
The Bucharest Police state that the criminal group has been active for 12 years in Bucharest and had four other members.
The leader, who exercised authority as a spiritual master and yoga instructor, recruited eight victims, taking advantage of their obvious vulnerability - lacking family support, with limited life experience, and without means of subsistence.
Under the pretext of spiritual evolution, with the support of the other suspects, he sexually exploited women by forcing them to produce and broadcast pornographic materials on various video chat platforms.
The victims were sheltered by the suspects in the apartments they own in Bucharest, with the necessary logistics provided for their video chat activities.
Additionally, members of the criminal group opened bank accounts to collect the money obtained by the women. They also strictly controlled the video chat performances by creating a "work group" where the girls were required to announce the start/end of their activities.
In the summer of 2019, the group leader, taking advantage of one victim's inability to express her will, engaged in a sexual relationship with her, subsequently preventing her from reporting to the judicial authorities.
The hearings will take place at the headquarters of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism.