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8 Mennonites accused of raping dozens

Prosecutor alleges men at Bolivia colony used aerosol spray to drug victims

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updated 11:17 a.m. ET June 24, 2009

LA PAZ, Bolivia - Eight men from a Mennonite farming community in eastern Bolivia have been accused of raping dozens of females at the settlement. A prosecutor has indicated at least one victim was an underage girl.

Prosecutor Freddy Perez told The Associated Press that 60 women, from 11 to 47 years old, have accused the men of rape. He said the men were suspected of using a form of aerosol spray to drug the women.

Perez said the suspects are mostly young. He said they were arrested Monday and are scheduled to go before a judge Wednesday.

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Investigators planned to go to the farm colony on Thursday.

ATB television said the men all denied the charges.

Mennonites belong to a conservative Christian sect that does without most modern conveniences and limits contact with outsiders.

More on Bolivia  |  Mennonites

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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