By Louise Milligan
 

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church — once known as the Exclusive Brethren — is a fairly obscure religious group, but it punches above its weight in its exercise of political and financial power.
 

Four Corners has undertaken an international investigation to expose the lengths this unlikely empire, run out of suburban Sydney, will go to in its attempts to assert control over members.
 

From private investigators to attempts to buy silence and accusations of interfering in democracy — the PBCC calls itself a church, but the former members who spoke to Four Corners compare it to a cult.
 

With the recent announcement of a federal parliamentary inquiry, which will explore its activities during the last election, and a raid by the tax office on multiple Brethren-linked businesses, the PBCC is now, more than ever, under the microscope.
 

The former members who have spoken out to us believe more needs to be done to hold the organisation to account.
 

Stream Four Corners: Big Brethren now on ABC iview.