In the center of Nice, the private Catholic high school Sasserno is in the midst of a storm. The principal was laid off on Wednesday as a precaution, while the establishment is under investigation, indicates to 20 minutes the public prosecutor, confirming information from France 3 Côte d’Azur. Open since mid-October and entrusted to the departmental security, it relates to suspicions “of sexual assault, attempted sexual assault and sexist insults by anyone abusing the authority of their functions”, specified Xavier Fellow.
According to his lawyer Me Philippe Soussi, the head of the establishment has not been questioned by the investigators at this stage. On the other hand, it was heard by the diocesan direction of catholic education (DDEC) of the diocese of Nice, which confirms its layoff in a press release sent to 20 minutes. It specifies that it is a “simple precautionary measure devoid of any disciplinary character” and that it “is part of the ongoing procedures and in respect of everyone’s rights”. “However, no final decision has been taken” concerning him, is it also specified.
A “cabal”?
The DDEC also ensures that a “report was made to the public prosecutor” as soon as it was “informed of a certain number of worrying facts within establishment “. It was last fall. Since then, things have accelerated. On February 7 and 8, at the request of the Bishop of Nice, an “extraordinary supervisory visit” was carried out in the high school, during which “more than 60 people were interviewed”, further notes the religious institution. .
The headteacher would not be the only one to be targeted. According to France 3 Côte d’Azur, the principal but also two other people are implicated in largely anonymous letters of denunciation, but also signed by “former staff who have been dismissed or by current members who allegedly blame the management of its poor governance”.
These letters could thus have been motivated by “internal jealousies”. Most of the personnel, who mainly support the three individuals suspected according to nice morning, even evoke “a revenge, a cabal to clear the head of the establishment”, according to a source quoted by the regional daily. The investigation is continuing.