Former surgeon Joël Le Scouarnec to face trial in France’s largest child abuse case

Joel Le Scouarnec, 73, is set to stand trial in what is being described as the largest child abuse case in French history, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports.

Former surgeon Joël Le Scouarnec to face trial in France’s largest child abuse case
Photo credit: Freepik.com

Accused of raping and sexually assaulting 299 minors, many of whom were allegedly under anesthesia during the attacks, Le Scouarnec’s trial begins later this month.

Surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec worked in hospitals throughout France, particularly Brittany, where most of the alleged crimes occurred. After being in the medical field for many years, he is accused of sexually abusing his patients over a 25-year period (from 1989 to 2014), many of whom were children under his care.

It is important to note that the upcoming case is not the first against Le Scouarnec. In 2017, his six-year-old neighbor in Jonzac, southwestern France, reported that he sexually assaulted and raped her, according to France Bleu.

During the investigation, officers discovered a number of disturbing pieces of evidence in Joel’s home. Among the findings were over 300,000 indecent images of minors, child-sized sex dolls, and detailed diaries allegedly documenting his assaults against children.

In December 2020, Le Scouarnec was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the rape and sexual abuse of four minors, including two of his nieces and a young hospital patient. During that trial, he admitted to some of the charges, yet claimed his diaries contained only “fantasies”.

The upcoming trial, set to begin on February 24 in Vannes, will address the broader scope of allegations, including more than 100 charges of rape and over 150 charges of sexual assault. Investigators believe that many of the offenses occurred while the victims were under anesthesia, leaving them with no memory of the events.

In addition to the case raising concerns among the public, it has also raised questions about whether Le Scouarnec was protected by colleagues or hospital management, despite an FBI warning to French authorities about his involvement with child abuse websites.

Some former patients have come forward to share their stories, recalling inappropriate touching during medical examinations, sometimes even in the presence of parents or other medical staff.

The trial is expected to become the largest child abuse case in French legal, it will also be the second largest international cases of sexual abuse. Just over a month prior, the Gisèle Pelicot mass rape trial in France had ended with 51 guilty convictions, marking the conclusion of another horrific case.

Earlier it was reported that Kyrgyzstan has toughened penalties for raping disabled persons.

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