PARIS — A retired French surgeon has been charged with the rape and sexual assault of greater than 300 folks, a overwhelming majority of whom have been underneath 15, in what could possibly be France’s biggest-ever pedophilia and sexual abuse case.
Joël Le Scouarnec, 70, a specialist in belly surgical procedure, is accused of getting abused 312 folks over three many years at a number of hospitals in central and western France. The authorities mentioned particulars in regards to the identities of the victims, whose common age was 11, have been included in personal diaries stored by Mr. Le Scouarnec, the place he described at size the sexual abuses he’s accused of perpetrating. Fewer than 50 have been adults.
“It’s an uncommon case to say the least, appropriately described as extraordinary, each due to the variety of its victims and the situations that led to the publicity of the crimes,” Stéphane Kellenberger, the state prosecutor in control of the case, informed reporters on Thursday.
Mr. Le Scouarnec had already been charged with sexual abuse of minors in 2017, a case that led investigators to find the diaries.
France has been rocked by a sequence of sexual abuse and pedophilia scandals; the newest was that of Gabriel Matzneff, a author who, for many years, wrote overtly of his pedophilia with the safety of some French elites.
However Mr. Le Scouarnec’s case is probably the biggest ever in France involving sexual abuse and pedophilia by a person.
“The dimensions of the case is absolutely unprecedented.,” mentioned Pierre Verdrager, a sociologist who has studied pedophilia. “I’m not conscious of a case with so many victims.”
The general public prosecutor’s workplace had initially recognized 343 potential victims however finally dismissed 31 instances as a result of the statute of limitations had lapsed or for lack of proof. Among the many remaining 312 folks, all thought to have been abused between 1986 and 2014, about 100 have been almost definitely raped and about 200 sexually assaulted, Mr. Kellenberg mentioned.
French legal guidelines prohibit intercourse between an grownup and a minor underneath the age of 15, however it isn’t routinely thought-about rape. Additional circumstances, reminiscent of abuse dedicated by an individual ready of authority, are essential to characterize such sexual relationships as rape.
France lately toughened legal guidelines towards intercourse crimes and prolonged the statute of limitations for rape towards a minor to 30 years from 20 years.
“We’re confronted with the pedophilia case of the century, due to the persona of the perpetrator and due to the info,” mentioned Francesca Satta, a lawyer representing about 20 accusers within the case.
Mr. Le Scouarnec was first arrested in 2017 after a 6-year-old woman dwelling in his neighborhood reported him to her mother and father. Mr. Le Scouarnec allegedly confirmed her his penis and digitally penetrated her, mentioned Ms. Satta, who can also be the woman’s lawyer.
That led to an investigation on sexual abuses dedicated towards 4 underage ladies between 1989 and 2017, together with the 6-year-old woman and two members of Mr. Le Scouarnec’s family, leading to prices of rape, sexual assault and exhibitionism. Mr. Le Scouarnec is in jail awaiting trial within the case, scheduled for late subsequent month.
What investigators didn’t anticipate, nevertheless, was {that a} search of Mr. Le Scouarnec’s dwelling as a part of this primary investigation revealed way more than anticipated. Together with three-foot-tall toy dolls, model wigs and baby pornography photos, law enforcement officials mentioned they discovered secret diaries recounting in nice element Mr. Le Scouarnec’s sexual encounters with scores of youngsters at hospitals the place he practiced between 1989 and 2017.
Mr. Kellenberg, the state prosecutor, mentioned Thursday that investigators carried out “essentially the most exhaustive and methodical evaluation potential of those components,” which took “the type of an insufferable enumeration.” The diaries, which consisted of notes typed on a pc, included “some paragraphs, elaborate and detailed, wealthy in particulars which can be troublesome to bear.”
The kids have been, more often than not, abused in a hospital, whereas underneath anesthetic substances, sedation and different medical therapies, Mr. Kellenberg mentioned.
Mr. Le Scouarnec’s diaries included dates and particulars in regards to the identities of the kids, officers mentioned, permitting the police to hint them to acquire their testimony, resulting in the indictment Thursday on prices of rape and sexual assault.
Thibaut Kurzawa, Mr. Le Scouarnec’s lawyer, denounced what he known as a “present process,” saying his shopper’s rights of protection had been violated and his security endangered. However he declined to touch upon the costs.
Mr. Le Scouarnec had already been given a four-month suspended jail sentence in 2005 for possessing baby pornography. However the sentence didn’t forestall him from practising medication.
“It is a main institutional dysfunction,” mentioned Mr. Verdrager, the sociologist, who mentioned medical and judicial authorities bore accountability. He added that, as was the case with Mr. Matzneff, the author, Mr. Le Scouarnec was a part of an elite which may have shielded him from retaliation.
Mr. Kellenberger introduced that an investigation had been began to find out if different folks had been conscious of Mr. Le Scouarnec’s actions and did not report them.
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