France’s Largest Child Sexual Abuse Trial Begins

France’s Largest Child Sexual Abuse Trial Begins

Former Surgeon Accused of Assaulting Hundreds of Young Patients

A former surgeon accused of raping or sexually assaulting hundreds of young patients, some while they were under anaesthetic, went on trial on Monday in what is considered France’s largest child sexual abuse case.

Charges and Investigation

Joel Le Scouarnec, 74, faces charges of aggravated rape and sexual assault against 299 victims, most of whom were children at the time. His case has raised serious concerns about the oversight and accountability of France’s publicly run healthcare system.

Previous Conviction and Continued Employment

In 2005, Le Scouarnec was convicted of possessing child pornography and received a suspended four-month jail sentence. Despite this conviction, he was employed as a surgeon at a public hospital in Quimperlé, western France, the following year. He continued to work in public hospitals until his re-arrest in 2017.

Discovery of Evidence

Le Scouarnec was arrested in 2017 on suspicion of raping his 6-year-old neighbor. During a search of his home, investigators found a collection of dolls, wigs, child pornography, and electronic diaries detailing sexual assaults on numerous patients in hospitals across the region.

Previous Conviction and Sentencing

In 2020, he was found guilty of the rape and sexual assault of his child neighbor, two of his nieces, and a 4-year-old patient. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Further investigations into his diaries led to additional charges involving 299 victims.

Admission and Trial Location

Prosecutors report that Le Scouarnec has admitted to many of the accusations during investigations. His trial is taking place in Vannes, Brittany. His lawyers have declined to comment.

Victims Seeking Justice

Francois, one of the plaintiffs, was 12 when Le Scouarnec allegedly abused him. He expressed frustration with the authorities for failing to prevent the surgeon from continuing his work with children.

“I feel betrayed by authorities,” he stated. “Why did nobody stop this surgeon from working with children?”

Warnings Ignored

Shortly after Le Scouarnec was hired at Quimperlé hospital in 2006, a psychiatrist raised concerns about his behavior. However, he continued working with children.

Despite being aware of his 2005 conviction, the local branch of the National Council of the Order of Physicians (CNOM) did not take action. The Quimperlé hospital has not responded to inquiries regarding his hiring and continued employment.

Investigation into Institutional Failures

The Lorient prosecutor, Stephane Kellenberger, has launched a separate investigation into whether public bodies or individuals could be held accountable for failing to prevent the abuse.

Homayra Sellier, head of the rights group Innocence in Danger, which is supporting 40 alleged victims, stated:

“There is no way that somebody can rape and assault children for all those years without the knowing of people around. No way.”

Lack of Response from Authorities

The French Health Ministry has not responded to requests for comment. CNOM, which oversees doctors’ ethical conduct and has disciplinary power, has also declined to comment.

The case continues to unfold, with victims and advocacy groups demanding justice and systemic changes to prevent future incidents.

“France’s Largest Child Sexual Abuse Trial Begins” “France’s Largest Child Sexual Abuse Trial Begins” “France’s Largest Child Sexual Abuse Trial Begins”