The chief of a religious and group group often called the School of Built-in Philosophy of Oasis Group has been charged with 4 counts of sexual assault.
Edmonton police mentioned 63-year-old Johannes (John) de Ruiter was arrested Saturday and charged with sexually assaulting 4 complainants in separate incidents between 2017 and 2020.
In a information launch Monday, EPS described the accused as a “self-styled” and “self-appointed” religious chief.
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The Oasis Group operated from the Oasis Constructing in west Edmonton – at 109 Avenue and 177 Road – from 2007 to 2021.
Constructing the place John de Ruiter occasions had been scheduled 214 St Albert Path. January 23, 2023.
World Information
Police mentioned de Ruiter “at the moment holds conferences at an workplace constructing on St. Albert Path in St. Albert, and gives religious retreats out of a campground close to Smith, Alta.”
Constructing the place John de Ruiter occasions had been scheduled 214 St Albert Path. January 23, 2023.
World Information
Police had been instructed that the accused “knowledgeable sure feminine group members that he had been instructed by a spirit to have interaction in sexual exercise with them, and that sexual exercise with him would supply them with a chance to achieve a state of upper being or attaining religious enlightenment. .”
In an electronic mail response, the School of Built-in Philosophy mentioned: “de Ruiter will likely be represented by authorized counsel and intends to vigorously contest these expenses in a courtroom of legislation.
“This example is a big effect for many who know and know Mr. de Ruiter.”
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Stephen Kent is a professor emeritus within the division of sociology on the College of Alberta who has been following de Ruiter and Oasis for many years.
Kent instructed World Information he even attended a few of De Ruiter’s conferences within the late Nineteen Nineties and early 2000s.
He mentioned followers “consider that de Ruiter is the residing embodiment of fact and that being round him and making an attempt to observe his teachings will result in their very own religious enlightenment and progress.”
The Oasis group operates on two fronts, Kent mentioned — as a religious group and as a enterprise.
“de Ruiter portrayed himself as a religious instructor and his followers noticed him in these respects. Nonetheless, the Oasis group is a enterprise. de Ruiter by no means sought charitable standing for his so-called non secular and religious teachings.”
Kent estimates there are fewer than 400 devoted followers — some in Edmonton, some additional north and around the globe.
John de Ruiter, self-appointed religious chief of Oasis Group in Edmonton. On January 21, 2023, charged with 4 counts of sexual assault.
Credit score: Fb/John de Ruiter
He says typically, in teams like this, a religious chief utilizing claims of progress as a motive for members to have intercourse with them is quite common.
“What occurs in these teams is that there could also be different people who find themselves victimized. Nonetheless, they’re typically afraid to return ahead. They nonetheless have members of the family within the group, they worry reprisals from fanatical members, they worry the facility they consider these leaders maintain over them,” Kent defined.
“People generally really feel disgrace, they really feel guilt, they need to put it behind them.”
Kent emphasised that it will be significant on this case to deal with the prison allegations and expenses.
“The problem is whether or not there have been prison offenses that occurred within the (alleged) sexual interactions.
“Consent may be very difficult when the individual committing the sexual acts has a management or belief relationship – an influence relationship – over the focused people.”
This case has the potential to set a precedent, Kent believes.
“A lot of points will virtually actually come up on this case. Problems with consent, free will, fiduciary duties of an individual ready of instructional energy, and probably ready of religious energy.
“If it goes to trial, it may take years. This story will not be over.”
EPS investigators consider there could also be different victims and are asking them to return ahead.
Police could be reached at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a cellphone. Nameless info can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or on-line.
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Mary Jane James, director of the Sexual Assault Middle of Edmonton, mentioned this example is disturbing.
“I notice these are allegations at this stage – nothing has been confirmed in courtroom – however actually the truth that there are 4 victims which have come ahead … you may go to the where-there-is-smoke-there-is-fire kind state of affairs soar.
“I think there will likely be extra,” she mentioned.
James was not conscious of the accused, however mentioned circumstances like this involving religious leaders aren’t uncommon.
“This isn’t the primary time now we have heard of those sorts of incidents inside faith-based organizations. We have been listening to about it for many years.
“These folks, these religion leaders, are ready of energy. And sometimes they join that energy to the individual’s religious journey or religious therapeutic,” James mentioned.
Basically, she added: “An individual in energy ought to by no means reap the benefits of somebody who will not be in energy in that means.
“It occurs day by day and never essentially on this context, nevertheless it’s the identical sort of state of affairs: pressure versus no pressure.”
James identified that sexual assault circumstances are very troublesome to prosecute, including that circumstances that always contain simply two folks can have a “he mentioned, she mentioned” dynamic.
“The EPS did a number of investigating earlier than they laid this criticism,” James mentioned.
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