La Paz - Eight members of a Mennonite community were jailed Wednesday in the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz, accused in the rapes of about 60 women in the municipality of Manitoba and its surroundings, said public prosecutor Freddy Perez.

"The men arrested will be charged with the crimes of rape, rape of a minor, rape in a state of unconsciousness and criminal association," Perez said.

He said that the suspects are descendants of German immigrants who live in Manitoba, home to one of the oldest Mennonite communities in the eastern Bolivian province of Santa Cruz. The community, which has been in the area for 40 years, works in agriculture and cattle ranching.

The alleged victims lived near the Mennonite settlement.(dpa)