The Solenzara military base in Corsica. – Francois Mori / AP / SIPA
Tied to a target, a bag over his head, as fighter planes fired live fire. Such is the traumatic hazing of which a soldier was the victim on the military base of Solenzara in Corsica.
These violent facts led the Marseille prosecutor’s office to open an investigation on Monday for “violence with a weapon and with premeditation”, indicates the prosecutor of the Republic of Marseille Dominique Laurens in a press release.
“Bizuter on purpose”
In March 2019, the young soldier in his twenties, who had just been assigned to Orange (Vaucluse), had been taken to Corsica, to the Solenzara base, “for the express hazing”, according to Me Frédéric Berna , his lawyer.
His new colleagues had tied a bag over his head, before tying him up and throwing him “violently” in the back of a pick-up, launched at high speed on Corsican roads in bad condition.
“Firm sanctions”
Arrived at the air base, his torturers had tied him to a pole, then left him alone, blinded under his bag. For about twenty minutes, the soldier then heard planes pass around him and carry out live fire, “a frightening and impressive noise” soon relayed by simulated shots in his direction, it is indicated in the complaint, that the ‘AFP was able to consult.
When questioned, the Air Force said it had conducted a command investigation into this hazing and had pronounced “firm sanctions” against those responsible, without specifying its nature.