Joël Le Scouarnec is accused of sexually abusing 299 patients over a 25-year span, making this case one of the most significant in French history.**
France's Largest Pedophilia Case: Trial of Former Surgeon Begins**
France's Largest Pedophilia Case: Trial of Former Surgeon Begins**
A retired surgeon faces numerous charges in a high-profile trial involving hundreds of alleged victims.**
The trial of Joël Le Scouarnec, a retired surgeon in France, commenced on Monday amid shocking allegations that he raped or sexually assaulted 299 individuals, primarily children, throughout his medical career. This scandal has emerged as one of the most extensive child abuse cases documented in the country’s history.
Le Scouarnec, now 74 years old, reportedly targeted his pediatric patients between the years 1989 and 2014. The majority of the alleged victims were minors, with the average age being around 11 years old at the time of the alleged offenses. The court proceedings began in Vannes, Brittany, where Le Scouarnec was escorted by law enforcement into the courtroom. Dressed in a black vest, he appeared composed as the presiding judge, Aude Buresi, inquired about his profession before imprisonment.
The former surgeon’s alleged acts occurred across various locations in western France, tracing his career as he transitioned through several private and public healthcare facilities, including clinics in Indre-et-Loire, Brittany, and Charente-Maritime. The trial is projected to span nearly four months as the court examines the extensive evidence and testimonies from the victims, who are now beginning to confront the troubling legacy of their abusive past.
