A horrifying case has emerged in France involving a 71-year-old man working in France’s power utility, EDF accused of recruiting dozens of men online to rape his wife over a decade, all while drugging her so that she was unaware of the rapes. The case, involving the man and 50 other accused men, is currently going to trial.
Details of the case
The abuse began in 2011 when the couple was living near Paris and continued after they moved to Mazan, a town about 700 kilometers south of the French capital. According to one of the woman’s lawyers, Antoine Camus, she was unaware of the rapes in real time due to being heavily sedated. The abuse came to light when the woman was 68 years old, revealing the hidden life of her husband, with whom she had been married for 50 years.
How the rapes were carried out
The accused husband used a website to hire strangers to rape his wife, instructing them through chat logs that were later discovered by police. He administered powerful tranquilizers to his wife, including anxiety-reducing drugs, to ensure she remained unconscious during the rapes.
He reportedly gave specific instructions to the men involved, such as avoiding strong scents like aftershave or cigarette odor, warming their hands before touching her and undressing in the kitchen to avoid leaving clothes in the bathroom. The husband himself participated in the rapes, recorded them, and encouraged the men to use abusive language.
Police investigation
The investigation began in September 2020 after the husband was caught secretly filming under the skirts of three women at a shopping center. Upon searching his computer, the police found thousands of images and videos of his wife in an unconscious state, revealing multiple incidents of abuse. These recordings showed that the rapes took place in their home in Mazan.
The police identified 72 men involved in a total of 92 rapes. Of these, 51 suspects, aged between 21 to 68 years and from various professions—including a forklift driver, fire officer, company executive, and journalist—have been formally detained.
Trial and legal proceedings
The public trial is expected to continue until December, during which the wife, who is determined to face her husband and the other accused men, will confront the horrific crimes committed against her.
This case has drawn significant attention due to the sheer scale of the abuse and the detailed planning that went into the rapes. It also highlights serious concerns regarding the use of the Internet for organizing such crimes and the lengthy period over which the abuse occurred without detection.
