France's Largest Child Abuse Trial Begins for Former Surgeon

Joël Le Scouarnec stands accused of sexually abusing 299 victims, primarily children, over 25 years in a trial that grips France's public attention.

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French Surgeon Is on Trial Accused of Raping or Abusing 299 People, Mostly Child Patients

Epoch Times

Surgeon on trial for allegedly raping, abusing 299 victims, mostly child patients

FOX News

France faces its largest child abuse trial, weeks after country was rocked by Pelicot case

CNN

Overview

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Joël Le Scouarnec, a former surgeon, faces trial over allegations of sexually abusing 299 victims, with most being children. The trial in Vannes, Brittany, expects to last four months. Le Scouarnec previously received a 15-year sentence in 2020 for related crimes. Allegations detail his actions from 1989 to 2014 during medical procedures, highlighting disturbing patterns of abuse. Activists are rallying against sexual violence as the trial could set crucial precedents for reforms in France's handling of such cases.

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: Joël Le Scouarnec is accused of raping or sexually abusing 299 victims, mostly children who were his patients. The allegations span from 1989 to 2014, involving 158 men and 141 women, with an average age of 11 at the time of the abuse.
People, CBS News, PBS
: The case began in 2017 when a 6-year-old neighbor reported that Le Scouarnec had touched her. He was previously convicted in 2005 for possessing child pornography and in 2020 for the rape and sexual assault of four children, receiving a 15-year sentence.
CBS News, PBS, People
: The trial is seen as a significant moment for activists pushing to dismantle taboos surrounding sexual abuse in France. It could inspire further reforms and encourage victims to speak out, following the example of cases like Gisèle Pélicot.
CBS News, The Independent, PBS
: Le Scouarnec has admitted responsibility for a large majority of the allegations. However, he claims not to remember everything and has described some of his detailed notebooks as 'fantasies' rather than real-life accounts.
People, CBS News, PBS

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