A public prosecutor in Peru is seeking the pre-trial detention of Luis Figari, founder of an elite Catholic society who is accused of sexually and physically abusing children and former members of the group.

The prosecutor will ask a judge to order Figari and three other former leaders of Sodalitium Christianae Vitae to spend up to nine months in jail ahead of trial.

Figari, who denies wrongdoing, lives in Rome. He is not clergy but sodalitium has pontifical approval.

Tags: Figari, Peru prosecutor, Rome