It's France, It's Cultism, And It's Fucking Hilarious What People Can Get Away With

SAINT DENIS, Reunion (AFP) — A cult leader jailed for sex attacks on children escaped in a helicopter from a prison on the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion on Monday, the regional administration said.

Juliano Verbard -- who was serving a 15-year term for raping and sexually assaulting children -- and two of his jailed followers were hauled on board a chopper hijacked by three accomplices, said senior official Jean-Francois Moniotte.

Verbard's flight was France's 11th helicopter jailbreak since 1986, and is bound to revive questions about security in its jails.

He was jailed in February 2008 for attacks on children aged nine and 13, whose mother was the sect's treasurer. He was also convicted of Alexandre's kidnap and is under investigation in another alleged paedophile case.

At the time of his trial, psychiatrist Gerard Toulfayan described Verbard as "a extremely powerful manipulator with great intelligence."

Verbard launched his cult in 2002 after convincing scores of followers that the Virgin Mary appeared to him every month. Adepts paid 20 euros (26 dollars) each for the honour of taking part in an appearance ceremony.

According to Verbard, Mary called him her "Lily of Love".

-- AFP