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Retired surgeon suspected of abusing up to 349 children stands trial in France
Investigators said a search of Le Scouarnec’s home yielded images of child abuse as well as notebooks where the surgeon detailed acts of sexual violence against children from 1989 to 2017.
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This court sketch released by the artist on Friday, shows French retired surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec attending his trial for the rape and sexual abuse of four child at the courthouse in Saintes, western France. - The 68 year-old retired French surgeon may have raped or sexually abused as many as 349 children over his near 30-year career and could be France's biggest-ever paedophilia case. Allegations against him cover the three decades he practised in hospitals across central and western France. They include accusations that he raped a six-year-old girl living in his neighbourhood, raped a young relative and sexually assaulted another, abused a child patient, and indecently exposing himself.After charges were brought against him in these cases, investigators discovered secret diaries in which Le Scouarnec described sex scenes involving scores more children. The children were named, allowing police to track them down to obtain their testimony, leading to additional charges. (AFP/Georges Gobet )
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retired surgeon suspected of raping or sexually abusing as many as 349 children over nearly three decades went on trial behind closed doors in France on Friday in what could be the country's biggest-ever pedophilia scandal.
The trial in the western town of Saintes is the first of hundreds of legal complaints against defendant Joel Le Scouarnec to come to court. It is due to run until March 17.
Le Scouarnec, 69, is charged in this opening case with raping and sexually abusing four children between 1989 and 2017. The alleged victims included two of his nieces, a patient and his neighbor’s then six-year-old daughter.
Because the victims were minors at the time, the Saintes court ruled on Friday that proceedings would be closed to the public, radio franceinfo said.
Le Scouarnec was arrested in 2017 when the young girl living next door told her mother that he had exposed himself and molested her.
Investigators said a search of Le Scouarnec’s home yielded images of child abuse as well as notebooks where the surgeon detailed acts of sexual violence against children from 1989 to 2017.
Le Scouarnec has told investigators that he had "already acted out” with children. He has however denied any full sexual penetration and said his diaries included an element of fantasy.
He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
