The French branch of the Church of Scientology has been convicted of fraud after Scientologists reportedly pressured members into paying large amounts of money and harassed recruits.
The 2009 fraud conviction has been upheld by the highest appeals court, the Associated Press reported.
Scientologists were accused of pressuring members into paying large sums for questionable services and materials and using "commercial harassment" against recruits, according to the AP.
The group and bookstore were fined 600,000 euros ($814,000). The Scientologists' appeals of their convictions claimed infringement on their religious freedom, but Scientology is not considered a religion under French law.
The Los Angeles-based Church of Scientology was founded in 1954 by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. Scientology, which teaches that technology can expand the mind and help solve problems, is recognized as a religion in the U.S., Sweden and Spain. It claims 10 million members worldwide.
While the religion's followers included devotees Tom Cruise and John Travolta, actress Leah Remini left the church in July after more than 30 years as a member, according to ABC News.
The "King of Queens" actress, who told US Weekly that she is planning a tell-all memoir about her Scientology experiences, may be tapped as a witness for another harassment suit.
Monique Rathbun, married to ex-Scientology executive Marty Rathbun, filed the lawsuit earlier this year, claiming the Church of Scientology intimidated and harassed the people close to her, ABC News reported.
The alleged harassment came after her husband, Marty Rathbun, of Bulverde, Texas, went public with criticisms of the church and its leader. After that, the Rathbuns said they were subjected to a wave of harassment by church members, according to ABC News.
Remini, who is competing on the current season of "Dancing with the Stars," addressed the split from the church during an appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in September.
"I'm OK," she told DeGeneres. "It's hard. We lost friends that can no longer talk to us who are still in the organization.... And these are friends that we've had for dozens of years. But I have great friends, other friends that are not in the church, that have stood by us. Our family is stronger; we're together, and that's all I can ask for."
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