20 Firefighters Serially Sexually Assault a 13-Year-Old Girl 130 Times... Only 3 Prosecuted, 'France's Outrage'

Julie, 13 in 2008, Sexually Assaulted for 2 Years
Court: "Difficult to Prove Rape"... Supreme Court Verdict on 10th
French Women's Groups and Citizens Outraged

Protest against sexual violence held in France in October 2017. Not directly related to the article content. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] In France, 20 firefighters allegedly committed over 130 serial sexual assaults over two years on a teenage girl more than a decade ago, but only three were prosecuted, sparking public outrage.

According to The Guardian and others on the 7th (local time), the Supreme Court ruling on the charges that Paris firefighters gang-raped Julie (26, pseudonym) when she was a teenager is scheduled for the 10th.

At the time, 20 firefighters including Pierre were accused of sexual assault, but only three were prosecuted due to difficulties in proving 'coercion or violent pressure.'

The incident began in 2008 when 13-year-old Julie, suffering from anxiety attacks, met firefighter Pierre who had helped her.

Pierre found her contact information in Julie’s medical records and began to groom her by sending 'affectionate messages.'

Later, Pierre asked Julie to film herself nude on a webcam, and she complied. Pierre also shared Julie’s phone number with other firefighters, who made the same demands.

In January of the following year, while Julie’s mother was away, Pierre went to Julie’s home and raped her. In November of the same year, he took Julie to his apartment and gang-raped her with two fellow firefighters. Subsequently, up to 20 firefighters visited Julie’s home more than 130 times over two years, continuing the assaults.

Julie only revealed the sexual assaults to her mother in July 2010. Her mother immediately filed a police complaint. She stated, "At first, I thought Pierre had come to check on my daughter’s health."

Among those prosecuted, two admitted to having 'group sex' with Julie during work hours. Another testified that 'sexual acts' occurred in the hospital bathroom where Julie was admitted but claimed he did not know she was a minor.

The court ordered an investigation into the three firefighters charged with gang rape, which took eight years. No action was taken against the remaining 17 perpetrators.

The three accused were charged in July 2019 not with rape but with 'consensual sexual intercourse with a minor under 15.' They claimed they had consensual relations with Julie.

The first-instance court ruled there was no evidence of 'coercion or violent pressure.' After this ruling, Julie attempted suicide. Her family appealed, but the High Court also dismissed the appeal, stating Julie consented to the sexual relations.

In France, rape charges require proof of 'coercion or violent pressure'; otherwise, a separate 'sexual violence' charge applies. The maximum sentences differ significantly, with 20 years for rape and 7 years for sexual violence.

Women’s groups and others are strongly protesting ahead of the final Supreme Court ruling. They plan to hold large-scale demonstrations across France on the 14th to support Julie and demand prosecution of all 20 firefighters.

The prosecutor in this case also expressed hope that the Supreme Court will set a precedent applying rape charges to minors under 15 without requiring proof of 'coercion or violent pressure.'

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.