Wife of Edmonton spiritual leader also facing charges of sexual assault, police say
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Monthly Digital Subscription
$4.75 per week*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel anytime.
EDMONTON – The wife of a self-styled spiritual leader has been charged with three counts of sexual assault stemming from separate occasions between 2017 and 2020.
Edmonton police say they arrested 64-year-old Leigh Ann de Ruiter on Monday.
Her arrest comes almost two months after her husband, Johannes de Ruiter, was charged with four counts of sexual assault.
Police have said he is the leader of an Edmonton group known as the College of Integrated Philosophy or the Oasis Group.
They say the couple’s charges stem from the three same alleged sexual assaults.
Edmonton police have alleged that Johannes de Ruiter would tell certain female members that he was directed by a spirit to engage in sexual activity with them, and that doing so would provide them with the opportunity to achieve spiritual enlightenment.
They did not elaborate on allegations against his wife.
Investigators believe there may be additional complainants, and are encouraging them to come forward.
The Free Press acknowledges the financial support it receives from members of the city’s faith community, which makes our coverage of religion possible.