The alert circulated at high speed on social networks and on the messaging loops of parents of students in the 17th arrondissement of Paris. Since October 7, the brigade for the protection of minors (BPM) of the Paris judicial police has been investigating suspicions of rape in a nursery school located a stone’s throw from the very posh Place des Ternes. The day before, the mother of a five-year-old boy lodged a complaint after her son denounced rape. A preliminary investigation was opened the same day by the Paris prosecutor’s office on the count of “rape of a minor under 15”.
The little boy, educated in large section, accuses an animator of the City of Paris of having put “a finger in the buttocks” while he was in a leisure center. According to legal and police sources, the child, heard twice, was however unable to identify the host involved. “He delivered different versions during his hearings,” insists one of these sources, specifying that the medical expertise had not been conclusive. The prosecution requested a psychological expertise of the child, scheduled in the coming days. The man involved has not yet been heard.
“Emotion and legitimate fears”
If for the moment, the police and judicial sources call for the greatest caution in this matter, fear seems to have already won the school community. During an information meeting – particularly tense – with the parents of students on Tuesday evening, some took part in the team of presenters and representatives of the City, accusing them of withholding information by not giving the name of the respondent. So that on Facebook, Wednesday, the mayor of the district Geoffroy Boulard (LR) said he was “in solidarity with the families” of which he shares “the excitement and the legitimate fears”, while calling for a serene pursuit of investigations.
At this stage of the investigation, no custody measure has been taken. The suspected facilitator has been suspended, as is the procedure in such cases. A decision independent of the investigation, insists a source close to the case. An administrative investigation, carried out by the City of Paris – his employer – was also opened as soon as the suspected touching was reported. During the information meeting, the town hall announced that three new facilitators would join the team so that an adult is never alone with a child.