Cult leader says sex charges part of witch-hunt

AAP, Australia/October 28, 2005

An 83-year-old cult leader facing 22 sex charges says the accusations are part of a witch-hunt by disaffected former members who are trying to destroy him.

Kenneth Emmanuel Dyers, co-founder of the self-styled spiritual healing group Kenja, was arrested yesterday at his house in Bundeena in Sydney's south over the alleged aggravated sexual and indecent assault of two 12-year-old girls.

He faces 17 aggravated indecent assault charges and one count of aggravated sexual assault in relation to the first girl.

He also faces four aggravated indecent assault charges in relation to the other girl.

The alleged offences happened at Kenja's offices in Surry Hills, in inner-Sydney, between December 2001 and July 2002.

Dyers was today granted conditional bail during a hearing at Sutherland Local Court.

Under the terms of his bail, Dyers is prohibited from attending the premises or any functions connected to the Kenja group, based in Sydney's Surry Hills.

He also is required to report to police once a week and will forfeit $50,000 if he breaches those conditions.

The WWII veteran told reporters outside court that he had been set up.

"This is a frame-up, no question," said Dyers, who walks with the aid of a cane.

"(It's) another attempt to destroy me, myself and Kenja. There have been lots of attempts, this is another one."

When asked who was trying to bring him down, Dyers mentioned the name "Cults Aware", which is understood to be a group made up of former Kenja members.

"I think it is time the media started looking at people behind the witch-hunt," Dyers said.

"I'm innocent and as long as my health holds up I will fight these bogus charges.

"The usual suspects are after me again, but I am not running away from them, I never did."

Dyers' lawyer, Harland Koops said the allegations were "part of a campaign to destroy him ... by people who are bitter and disaffected former members (of Kenja)."

Mr Koops told the court Dyers had faced a ten-year court battle over similar charges, but they had been quashed.

"He was acquitted on everything," Mr Koops told the court.

Mr Koops compared the allegations to America's Salem witchcraft trials in 1692, adding: "The more bizarre the allegations the more some people want to believe them."

He also told the court teenage girls from Sydney's eastern suburbs should "know how to say no".

The court was told Dyers's health was ailing and he suffered from several conditions including emphysema and back and heart problems.

Mr Koops also said his client had had erectile dysfunction for the past 15 years and the allegations against him were implausible.

"These complainants are lying because they refer to Mr Dyers having an erection for 15 minutes," he said.

Prosecutor Paul Upsall said Dyers posed a threat to the community and described the allegations as "extremely serious".

Dyers said the decision by Magistrate John Bailey to grant him bail was a significant victory.

Kenja Communication is a Sydney-based group founded in 1982 by Dyers and his defacto wife, former actress Jan Hamilton.

Dyers described his group, which preaches the positive power of a form of one-to-one meditation called "energy conversion", as a "blessing to Australia ... the human spirit of the people of Australia."

Asked today if the Kenja group was a cult, Dyers replied: "Is football a cult?".

Kenja has been accused by critics of practising mind control over its adherents.

Among former members is Cornelia Rau, the former Qantas flight attendant wrongfully held in immigration detention.

Her sister Christine Rau said Ms Rau's mental health deteriorated during the several months she spent with the group.