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Scientology leader's own father was spied on

The leader of the Church of Scientology has been accused of hiring private investigators to follow his elderly father.

David Miscavige allegedly ordered round the clock surveillance after his 79-year-old father Ronald Miscavige quit Scientology, according to The Los Angeles Times.

The 54-year-old who is a close friend of Tom Cruise, has always denied that he hires private investigators to follow, film and intimidate critics of the group.


However a police report has emerged detailing how the $3 billion Church of Scientology hired two private investigators for $10,000 a week to follow Miscavige Sr. All because Mr Miscavige feared that his father would divulge too much about the organisation's activities.

Private Investigator Dwayne Powell told police that he and his 21-year-old son Daniel, were hired to follow Miscavige Sr, according to the documents.

He told police the pair went through his garbage, photographed him wherever he went and even put a GPS tracker on his car.

Mr Powell said that when he contacted Scientology because he thought Miscavige Sr was having a heart attack, David Miscavige personally called him back and told him not to intervene.

"David told him that if it was Ron's time to die, to let him die and not intervene in any way," the records state.

Mr Powell described the surveillance job to police, after he was arrested near Milwaukee in July 2013 with two rifles, four handguns, 2,000 rounds of ammunition and a homemade silencer in his rented SUV.

When he was confronted by police he said he was house-hunting, according to the documents obtained by the newspaper.

While Mr Powell initially declined to name his employer he later told a detective that he was hired by the Church of Scientology to conduct "full-time" surveillance of Miscavige Sr.

David Miscavige allegedly ordered round the clock surveillance on his own father. Source:7News
David Miscavige allegedly ordered round the clock surveillance on his own father. Source:7News

This incident, is the latest in a decades-long series of allegations that the church has intimidated, harassed or abused current and former members.

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon has expressed his concerns about the religion.

“This is very different from other religions and religious organisations where there are a few bad apples, it seems that the rottenest of the organisation goes to its very head,” he said.

Former top executives in Scientology have recently spoken out in a documentary that alleged Miscavige ordered Nicole Kidman's phone tapped when she was married to Tom Cruise.

Former Scientologist Mike Rinder said people went to great lengths to protect the church.

"You can have people that lie with a very straight face if they believe that what they are doing is protecting the Church of Scientology,” he said.

David Miscavige has denied hiring the Private Investigator and claims he has never met him.

News break - April 9