Major sexual assault case in France reveals offences committed in Switzerland

French judiciary seeks witnesses after abuse accusation Keystone-SDA

A 79-year-old Frenchman has been charged with the alleged sexual assault of 89 minors in France and other countries. Some of the offences were committed in Switzerland, the Grenoble public prosecutor's office announced.

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The number of victims was determined on the basis of recordings that the septuagenarian had saved on a USB stick. They described sexual acts with minors between the ages of 13 and 17, as the Grenoble public prosecutor Etienne Manteaux explained to the media on Tuesday.

In addition to France and Switzerland, the offences are said to have been committed in Germany, Morocco, Niger, Algeria, the Philippines, India, Colombia and New Caledonia, where the man worked as an educator.

The USB stick had been discovered by the man’s nephew, who had asked “questions about his uncle’s love and sex life”, according to the public prosecutor. It was extensive material, he specified. The public prosecutor called on witnesses to come forward “so that other possible victims can come forward”.

During questioning, the man also admitted that he had suffocated his mother, who was suffering from terminal cancer, in 1970. He had also killed his 92-year-old aunt in the same way in 1990.

Translated from French by AI/jdp

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