In France, a defendant is due to appear before a court in a case involving violence against children.
Reports indicate that a 74-year-old surgeon named Joel Le Skuarnek spent three decades in medical practice, during which he was accused of raping young patients. In 2005, he faced charges tied to the possession or storage of materials deemed inappropriate involving children. Despite these matters, he returned to hospital duties in 2006 and continued to work with pediatric patients.
By 2017, prosecutors alleged that the physician sexually assaulted another six-year-old neighbor and three other children, with the abuse spanning roughly fifteen years. Investigations expanded and authorities estimated that as many as 299 people were harmed in connection with the surgeon. A number of victims were children, and some assaults allegedly occurred while the victims were under anesthesia.
Records indicate that in 2007, following a surgical procedure, the surgeon allegedly persuaded a ten-year-old child to remain in the hospital overnight under his care. A diary entry attributed to Le Skuarnek reportedly described that he harassed the child that night.
Prosecutors have claimed that Le Skuarnek acknowledged numerous offenses against children, while his legal team disputed the characterization.
The court date is set for February 24, with proceedings expected to proceed under French criminal procedure. This case is described by some observers as among the most serious instances of violence against children in the country, given the scope of the alleged victims.
In a separate matter, five individuals in Chita faced charges related to the rape of a female student.