The surgeon’s process begins in the biggest case of sexual abuse of children in France | World News

Vannes, France -a retired surgeon was tried in western France on Monday, accused on Monday of sexually raped and assaulted hundreds of young patients, some while under anesthetics, in the largest case of sexual abuse of France.

Joel Le Scouarnec, 74 years old, is experiencing accusations of aggravated rape and sexual assault against 299 victims, most children at that time, in a case who raise difficult questions for the healthcare system, victims and groups for rights.

Wearing a black jacket and glasses, he spoke in a constant voice to confirm his name, birth date and other personal information in the small provincial courtroom. A series of his alleged victims followed the procedures in a nearby building.

The alleged abuse of them had been telling them about the patients included 25 years, from 1989 to 2014. His lawyer Maxime Tessier told the court that Le Tezarnec has recognized responsibility for a majority of alleged abuses.

The process comes in a moment to consider around the sexual crimes in France, after the conviction of Dominique Pelicot, who was found guilty in December that he trained his wife and invoked dozens of men at their home to rape her.

He has already served prison time for previous rape convictions, Le Scouarnec is facing up to 20 years in prison, if found guilty. The two sentences would run concomitantly.

“My customers are not expecting anything from Le Scouarnec. In France, whether you rape a child or 300, it is the same sentence,” said reporters Marie Grimaud, a lawyer representing some of Le Scouarnec’s alleged victims.

“My customers only hope to find a certain dignity, humanity and considerations from the justice system.”

Sexual abuse of children

Scouarnec was convicted of sexual crimes on two previous occasions.

I was taught a sentence suspended by four months in prison for the possession of child pornography in 2005, but managed to provide a job as a surgeon at a public hospital in Western France, the following year.

He continued to work in public hospitals until his 2017 reexestimation, the suspicion of raping his 6 -year -old neighbor. The police discovered the electronic journals that seemed to detail their sexual aggression on patient scores from hospitals throughout the region.

In 2020, Le Scouarnec was convicted for the rape and sexual aggression of his child’s neighbor, as well as for two of his granddaughters and a 4 -year -old patient and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Subsequent investigations regarding the alleged victims connected to his files determined the prosecutors to subsequently accuse them of the aggravated rape and the sexual aggression of 299 people.

Francois, a plaintiff in question and was 12 years old when he Scornec had abused him, said he was betrayed by the authorities.

“Why did no one prevent this surgeon from working with children?” said Francois, who asked to be identified only with this name.

According to the judicial documents, some members of the personnel from the Ministry of Health were aware of the 2005 sentence. The ministry did not respond to the comment applications.

Ignored warnings

Shortly after Scouarnec provided a job in Quimperle in 2006, a psychiatrist at the hospital alerted their leadership regarding the surgeon’s behavior, showed a court document.

The Quimperle Public Hospital did not respond to the comment requests about why he was engaged after his conviction for the possession of child pornography and why he kept his job after concerns were raised.

Local prosecutor Stephane Kellenberger has opened a separate probe in the possible criminal liability of other public bodies or persons who could have prevented abuse.

“There is no way to rape and attack the children for all those years without knowing the people around you,” said Homayra Sellier, the head of innocence, who supports 40 alleged victims and is a applicant in this case.

Outside the Vannes Court, a small city in Brittany, the protesters held banners accusing the medical authorities of complicity.

The National Council of the Order of Physicians, which supervises the observance of the Code of Ethics of doctors in France and has the power to discipline the doctors, said that it works with the judicial system to prevent future damage for patients.

COMN asked the judge if he could be added as a applicant to the case to answer some of his questions about possible failures. Lawyers for the alleged victims said the request was ashamed.

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