THE empire of controversial Agape Ministries Church spans two states, eight properties and a fleet of 13 vehicles, and its funds are held in 10 separate accounts, it has been revealed.

The Advertiser learnt that one of the Victorian properties at the centre of the dispute was sold last month for around $1.6 million.

Also yesterday, police said they were no closer to finding Leo or one of his closest confidants, John Mouhalos three months after they found batons, fuses, detonators, detonator cords and about 20,000 rounds of high-powered ammunition allegedly connected to the cult. The court documents show:

  1. LEO owns three South Australian properties, including the church’s Oakden headquarters, and Butterflies Cafe on Pirie St, Adelaide.
  2. FIVE properties in the Victorian suburbs of Sunshine and Clayton are owned by either Leo, the Venezianos or companies in which they hold an interest.
  3. THE church runs a fleet of 13 vehicles including a luxury Mercedes sedan, a silver Mercedes coupe and a dual-cab tip-truck.
  4. FUNDS connected to the church are held in one Westpac and nine Commonwealth Bank accounts.

Leo and the Venezianos are being sued by Silvia Melchiorre and Martin Penney, who claim they were duped into handing over $1.2 million and $420,000 respectively.

They claim Leo told them the Earth’s population would be impregnated with tiny microchips containing personal information. Leo allegedly said anyone who refused the chip would be branded terrorists and be gassed or beheaded in government concentration camps.

Mr Penney alleges Leo also warned them that those people who agreed to be micro-chipped would also die from a slow-release poison hidden within the devices.

Ms Melchiorre claims Leo promised to keep her safe on “The Island”, a South Pacific location where he would also heal her.

In July, long-time Agape church member Raphael Azariah admitted microchipping had been “discussed in Bible study class”.

Was it Mark Twain who said that “Religion was invented when the first con-man met the first fool.”?