Woman Guru Accused of Psychological and Financial Enslavement for Profit

The French prosecutor's office in Strasbourg announced details of a case in which a woman guru and her husband were accused of creating a cult-like structure of psychological manipulation for profit. The main suspect, Aurelia Aymé, presented herself as a therapist and a master of Buddhist meditation, also calling herself a 'light catcher.' Together with her husband, a nurse by profession, she ran an activity that investigators described as cult-like, aimed at financially exploiting clients. The accused are formally charged with fraud, money laundering, and illegal work. Their activity began in December 2017 and was based on offering paid pseudo-therapeutic services, such as 'sensory communication' sessions and fortune-telling using Marseille tarot. Clients, led into a state of deep psychological dependence, referred to by the prosecutor's office as 'psychological enslavement' (sujétion psychologique), were then systematically deprived of money, which in many cases led to their complete financial ruin. The investigation into this case began in September 2024 after three complaints were filed by victims. Not only the local criminal brigade but also the specialized Interministerial Research Group (GIR) was involved in its conduct, highlighting the complex and specific nature of the case. As a result of the investigation, on February 12, 2026, the couple was formally indicted. The court decided to apply different preventive measures against the accused. Aurelia Aymé was placed in custody, while her husband, due to a different assessment of flight risk and the severity of the charges, was placed under judicial supervision. Additionally, the court prohibited him from contacting victims and performing any practices related to so-called energy therapy, aiming to secure the proceedings and protect potential new victims. France has one of the world's most developed legal and police structures for combating cults, a result of tragic experiences from the 1990s, such as the wave of suicides in the Order of the Solar Temple. The About-Picard law of 2001 introduced the offense of 'abuse of a state of weakness' in a cult context into the penal code. The state also maintains an official list of organizations recognized as cults, and the government body MIVILUDES monitors their activity. The case in Strasbourg is an example of the active application of these legal instruments.Prosecutor Clarisse Taron emphasized in an official statement that the accused's practices allowed them to significantly enrich themselves at the expense of their clients. As part of asset seizure for future compensation claims, an amount of 300,000 euros was frozen in the couple's bank accounts. Aurelia Aymé's activity was conducted mainly online, through a website where she advertised her services. „Les pratiques leur ont permis de s’enrichir au détriment de personnes placées en situation de faiblesse psychologique.” (The practices allowed them to enrich themselves at the expense of people placed in a state of psychological weakness.) — Clarisse Taron, prosecutor of the Republic in Strasbourg This case illustrates modern forms of cult activity, which use digital media to recruit and isolate victims. The case is ongoing, and further investigation aims to determine the full scale of the crime and identify all victims.