A retired French surgeon is assumed to have sexually molested and abused around 349 children during the 30 years of his career stated an official investigating the case.
As per reports, this incident might be France’s biggest-ever paedophilia case. Joel Le Scouarnec, 68, is planned unproved in March for the rape and sexual assault of 4 child victims.
Accusations include the rape a six-year-old girl living in his neighbourhood, the rape of a young relative and therefore the sexual abuse of another, the abuse of a toddler patient, and allegations of indecently exposing himself.
The children were named, which has allowed the police to trace them right down to obtain their testimony. This, in turn, has led to additional charges. Le Scouarnec’s lawyers have called the journal entries “fantasies”. Laureline Peyrefitte, chief prosecutor of the town of Lorient in Brittany, northwest France, said on Friday that the amount of possible victims now’s 349.
In total, 229 people are questioned by investigators. One hundred ninety-seven of them have pressed charges, Peyrefitte said, adding the case was made “extraordinary” by the way the alleged crimes came to light and therefore a large number of suspected victims.
Francesca Satta, a lawyer for a few of the alleged victims, told AFP that “they remember perfectly well what they endured but never talked about it because they were afraid.” Le Scouarnec was given a four-month suspended jail sentence in 2005 for possession of kid pornography.
If convicted on the primary set of charges, the doctor risks up to twenty years in jail. He is going to be tried within the southwestern town of Saintes from March 13 to 17. He is currently awaiting trial in prison.