A French surgeon, who sexually abused hundreds of patients, including minors, over a period of two decades, has insisted that he should face no leniency as his trial nears its verdict.
Joel Le Scouarnec, 74, confessed to sexually assaulting or raping 299 patients, 256 of whom were under 15 years old, during his tenure at hospitals in western France between 1989 and 2014.
Many of the crimes were committed while victims were under anaesthesia or recovering from surgery.
In a stark closing statement on Monday, Le Scouarnec said, "I am not asking the court for leniency... Simply grant me the right to become a better person."
His remarks came ahead of the anticipated verdict from the court in Vannes, located in the western Brittany region, set for Wednesday.
The prosecution has requested the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for Le Scouarnec, as well as continued treatment and supervision after any potential release.
Prosecutor Stéphane Kellenberger, addressing the court on Friday, described Le Scouarnec as "the devil, sometimes dressed in a white coat."
The prosecutor also hinted that further trials might be necessary to address additional victims not included in the current case.
Le Scouarnec is facing charges in this trial for 111 rapes and 189 sexual assaults, making him one of France's most notorious convicted sex offenders.
His defence team has stated that he does not contest the charges or the requested sentence but emphasized his apparent remorse.
Maxime Tessier, one of Le Scouarnec's lawyers, pointed out that the surgeon had admitted full responsibility, adding, "He has always said, 'I am the only guilty party, I am the only one responsible.'"
Despite these statements, many victims have expressed doubt over the sincerity of Le Scouarnec's repeated apologies. His remorse has been described as mechanical, with the surgeon often delivering it in a monotone voice.
Le Scouarnec has also stated that he does not recall many of the abusive acts he committed.
Marie Grimaud, a lawyer representing several victims, urged the court to consider the "crystal clear perversion" of Le Scouarnec's actions, stressing the risk he still poses.
"Sometimes harsh realities must be faced," Grimaud remarked, emphasising the severity of the surgeon's crimes.
The trial has revealed disturbing details about the surgeon's decades-long career. Le Scouarnec continued practising until his retirement in 2017, despite a prior conviction in 2005 for possessing sexually abusive images of children.
In December 2020, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping and sexually assaulting four children, including two of his nieces.
During the trial, victims and their families voiced frustration that the case had not received the level of media and political attention they had hoped for.
In early May, around 20 victims and their relatives gathered outside the court, protesting the lack of response from the French government. They called for an "interministerial commission" to learn from the case and ensure such abuses are prevented in the future.
"We are appalled to see that this 'trial of the century' is not a watershed event," said the protest group.
"They are trying to make him out to be a monster, but this monster is the society that created him and allowed him to persist," said Manon Lemoine, one of Le Scouarnec's victims, who was raped by him when she was just 11. "If he is not sentenced to supervised confinement, it will be a disgrace."
Experts have warned that Le Scouarnec remains a dangerous individual, and many victims fear he will continue to pose a risk if released without continued supervision.
The court's decision on Wednesday will determine whether the former surgeon, one of France’s most prolific sex offenders, will face further confinement after serving his sentence.
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