France: 675 suspected sexual abusers arrested in five weeks
Following the murder of an 11-year-old girl, French justice undertook a large-scale crackdown on sexual assault against minors.
France: 675 suspected sexual abusers arrested in five weeks
675 people were taken into police custody in France over the course of five weeks, following a large-scale crackdown on sexual assault against minors. This decision came in the wake of the violent murder of Lyhanna, an eleven-year-old girl, and scathing criticism directed at the justice system for its inaction in response to reports of abuse.
The Justice Minister, Gérald Darmanin, announced in Paris that nearly 1,000 suspected cases of abuse had been classified as priority cases. He had ordered the review of nearly 70,000 files after the death of young Lyhanna. The alleged suspect in this crime, a 41-year-old man already known for rape offences against minors, had gone uninvestigated by the justice system for months despite multiple reports.
According to criteria defined by the ministry, a case is considered a priority when the suspect is identified, already known to justice authorities, and the victim is a minor. The systematic review of files has also led to the opening of 1,300 preliminary investigations since early June, four times more than during the same period the previous year.
The suspect in Lyhanna's murder, Jérôme B., is currently in pre-trial detention on abduction charges. DNA traces were discovered in the victim's intimate area, which should lead to charges being extended to rape and murder. The man refused to speak during his questioning by an investigating judge.
These announcements coincide with debates in the National Assembly on a child protection bill. This legislation provides notably for the avoidance of institutional placement of children in favour of entrusting them more to foster families, as well as strengthened checks on teachers and youth workers.
Source: n-tv.de
Source: n-tv