former minister Damien Abad indicted for tried rape | EUROtoday

Published on : 05/16/2024 – 22:07

2 minutes

Former minister Damien Abad, accused of sexual violence by three girls, was indicted on Thursday May 16 in Paris for tried rape in 2010 of one among them, AFP realized from a supply near the case.

The deputy (associated to Renaissance) of Ain was positioned underneath the extra favorable standing of assisted witness for the 2 others, who accused him of rape in 2010 and 2011.

In a press launch despatched to AFP, the 44-year-old politician, defended by Jacqueline Laffont and Robin Binsard, thought-about that this standing of assisted witness “demonstrates the unfounded nature of the accusations”. As for his indictment, the forty-year-old assured that he had “no doubt” that his “innocence” can be “confirmed at the end” of the investigations.

This indictment is a part of the judicial investigation focusing on him since June 21, 2023, on suspicion of rape and tried rape.

Three girls

The affair broke out in spring 2022, when Mediapart revealed testimonies from two girls, Chloé (not her actual title) and Margaux, accusing Damien Abad of rape, in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

Before talking to the press, the primary indicated having made an nameless report back to the Observatory of Sexist and Sexual Violence in Politics, the second having seen her grievance closed by the Paris prosecutor's workplace in 2017.

Their speech in Mediapart had prompted a 3rd lady, a centrist elected official nicknamed Laëtitia, to testify in flip, then to file a grievance for tried rape. Laëtitia notably accuses Damien Abad of getting tried to rape her throughout a celebration organized at his dwelling in Paris in 2010.

His grievance led to the opening of a preliminary investigation. The MP, whose parliamentary immunity had been lifted, was taken into police custody on June 7 after which launched with out prosecution. The investigations have been then entrusted to 2 investigating judges, and the three girls turned civil events on this case.

Damien Abad was indicted for the details denounced by Laëtitia. “The accusations made by my client from the beginning are consistent and cross-referenced by corroborating testimonies, this expected indictment is logical,” reacted to AFP Me Mario Stasi, her lawyer.

The former chief of the LR deputies was appointed in May 2022 Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy and People with Disabilities. The day after his appointment, Mediapart relayed accusations of rape towards him. He left the chief at the start of July 2022 throughout the reshuffle.

With AFP