Ex-patients look towards collective civil, criminal case

Following The Citizen's investigation and article on Tetelestai Recovery Centre (TRC), a string of disturbing allegations has emerged online, with more former patients and community members accusing the facility of abuse, financial exploitation and psychological manipulation disguised as treatment.

- Hein Kaiser

One account described how a young man was allegedly sent to the centre for a minor addiction to cigarettes and, after being caught smoking, was locked in a cell "no bigger than a toilet".

He was reportedly forced to scrub the small space with a brush for hours each day as punishment. Locals claimed online that the centre is "not a rehab but something sinister", with rumours of other illegal activities linked to the property mulled by concerned people.

Another former patient alleged he was humiliated and made to sit in one spot from 6am until 9pm, digging a hole with a teaspoon for three weeks, exactly as witnesses had told The Citizen.