Sexual violence against minors: 70,000 files re-examined, 15,000 additional complaints discovered
Following the Lyhanna case, courts have re-evaluated nearly 70,000 complaints of violence against minors. This audit uncovered 15,000 additional reports. The Justice Minister announces that 675 individuals have been remanded in custody since early June.
Sexual violence against minors: 70,000 files re-examined, 15,000 additional complaints discovered
French courts were required to complete a thorough examination of nearly 70,000 complaints relating to assaults committed against minors by 14 July. This vast operation, triggered following the failings highlighted by the Lyhanna case, resulted in the discovery of 15,000 additional reports that had not previously been handled. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin also indicated that 675 people had been remanded in custody since the beginning of June.
These revelations were communicated as part of a review presented by the Keeper of the Seals. According to his statements to the National Assembly, 69,626 criminal and misdemeanour proceedings were thoroughly reviewed by the public prosecutors' offices. Furthermore, 15,000 new complaints emerged from investigative services or direct submissions from victims.
Among all the cases examined, 970 were classified as priority matters. These sensitive files resulted in the imprisonment of 675 suspects. A magistrate from the Alès public prosecutor's office, Abdelkrim Grini, illustrates the situation: he had to handle 200 files in the space of six weeks, some dating from 2023 or 2024, which had remained pending due to lack of resources or lack of awareness of their seriousness.
One of these reopened cases concerns a man accused of sexually abusing two of his nephews, who were aged 5 and 7 at the time. The procedure had been stalled for three years. Thanks to this mobilisation, the alleged perpetrator was arrested and remanded in custody in less than a week following a judicial review.
Marine Allali, a lawyer representing victims, confirms the effectiveness of this initiative in one of her proceedings: police custody followed by provisional imprisonment were ordered in a matter of days for a suspect in rape cases involving minors.
Source: franceinfo
Source: France Info