A French surgeon is accused of raping hundreds of children

In France, a 73-year-old former surgeon is set to stand trial for the rape of 299 children, most of whom were under anesthesia during the abuse.

According to reports from *The Independent* and *BBC*, Le Squarnac has already admitted to some charges but denies others. The trial will begin on February 24 and is expected to last until summer. The case follows a years-long police investigation, and there are likely to be uncomfortable questions raised about whether his colleagues and hospital management covered up his actions.

BBC has called this case “the largest pedophilia and child abuse trial in France’s history.”

The investigation began after a six-year-old neighbor of the doctor from the town of Jonzac told her parents that he had molested her. This led to a large-scale search during which authorities uncovered numerous pieces of evidence of the surgeon’s crimes, which took place from 1989 to 2014. Among the findings were diaries in his home detailing his actions, even naming the victims. Additionally, over 300,000 photographs were found, showing scenes of child abuse.

Investigators believe the doctor abused his professional status, selecting such young patients that they were unable to understand or remember what had happened to them. It is likely that he took advantage of children when alone with them in hospital rooms, as well as older patients who were under anesthesia during surgeries.

In 2020, Le Squarnac was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the rape and abuse of four children, including two of his nieces. However, the former surgeon is attempting to argue that his diaries, in which he repeatedly stated “I am a pedophile,” were merely “fantasies” and did not reflect real actions.

Currently, Le Squarnac faces over 100 charges of rape and 150 of sexual abuse. Some of his patients have said they remember him touching them, but most of the victims were under anesthesia and could not recall the details. They only learned what had happened to them after law enforcement officials contacted them.