France Issues International Witness Appeal in Case of Former Teacher Accused of Abusing 89 Children
en01.web.id – France. French judicial authorities have issued an international witness appeal in a major child sexual abuse investigation involving a former schoolteacher accused of raping and sexually assaulting at least 89 children over more than five decades.
The suspect, a 79-year-old French national, is alleged to have committed the crimes between 1967 and 2023 while working as a teacher and private tutor. Prosecutors say the abuse occurred in multiple countries, including France, Switzerland, Germany, Morocco, Algeria, Colombia, the Philippines, and New Caledonia.
The public appeal was announced by Grenoble chief prosecutor François Touret de Coucy, who said investigators believe the number of victims could be significantly higher. “The scale of this case is exceptional. We are convinced that not all victims have yet been identified, and we are calling on anyone who may have encountered this individual or believes they may be a victim to contact authorities,” Touret de Coucy said in a statement.
The investigation began in 2024 after a family member of the suspect discovered a USB drive and handwritten notebooks at a residence in the Isère region of southeastern France. The documents reportedly contained detailed personal records describing sexual acts committed against minors over several decades.
French police say the suspect documented names, locations, and time periods of the alleged crimes, allowing investigators to establish a chronological timeline of abuse starting in the late 1960s. The man is believed to have targeted boys primarily through his professional role in education, using school activities and private lessons to gain access to victims.
France’s national criminal investigation director Jean-Philippe Lecouffe said the suspect’s own writings formed a central part of the case. “The material we seized shows a methodical pattern of behavior extending across multiple countries and generations of victims,” Lecouffe said.
To assist with victim identification, prosecutors released an official timeline featuring photographs of the suspect taken between 1965 and 2023. The images were distributed alongside a list of countries where he lived or worked, in an effort to help former victims recognize him despite changes in appearance over time.
The suspect is currently in pre-trial detention in Grenoble and has been charged with multiple counts of child rape and aggravated sexual assault. Under French law, he faces a potential life sentence if convicted. Authorities said additional charges could follow if more victims come forward.
Prosecutors stressed that the age of the crimes does not limit the investigation. “There is no statute of limitations for sexual crimes of this gravity in France. Every victim, regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred, has the right to justice,” Touret de Coucy said.
The case has prompted renewed debate in France over child protection policies and oversight in the education sector, with advocacy groups calling for stronger monitoring systems and mandatory reporting mechanisms for suspected abuse.