“This is an unusual case, to say the least, rightly described as “out of the ordinary”, both due to the number of victims and the conditions that led to the revelation of the crimes. » In October 2020, in these terms, the Lorient prosecutor, Stéphane Kellenberger, announced the indictment of Joël Le Scouarnec on several charges, including “rape and sexual assault of minors under 15 years of age.” The former surgeon was suspected of having abused 312 alleged victims between 1986 and 2014. They were arrested by the courts. “of the 343 identifiable and identified victims”, the magistrate said during a press conference.
Almost four years later, the Lorient prosecutor announced, on Monday, September 30, the accusation against Dr Le Scouarnec, 73, and his referral to the Morbihan Departmental Criminal Court, in Vannes, accused of “aggravated rape and aggravated sexual assault.” His trial is expected to take place in 2025.
In his indictment, dated September 27, the investigating judge preserved 300 acts committed against 299 victims, from 1990 to 2014. In December 2022, the investigating chamber of the Court of Appeal of Rennes had considered that, for twenty of victims, the events were too old and therefore the prescription of public action was acquired, totally or partially.
“Mr Le Scouarnec faces a maximum sentence of twenty years of criminal imprisonment, as provided for by applicable criminal legislation”declared the Lorient prosecutor.
In December 2020, the septuagenarian, currently detained in the Lorient-Plœmeur prison, had already been sentenced to fifteen years in prison for “rape” and “sexual assault” of two nieces, his four-year-old neighbor and a patient. . .
