Paris the 15 may 2016. Olivier Duhamel is accused of incest in a book written by his daughter-in-law, Camille Kouchner. – STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP
The facts seem time-barred. But the Paris prosecutor’s office has, all the same, decided to open, this Tuesday, a preliminary investigation for “Rape and sexual assault on a minor of 14 years by person having authority ” in order to shed light on the “Duhamel affair”. Renowned political scientist, president of the National Foundation of Political Sciences (FNSP) and collaborator of the LCI channel and the radio Europe 1, Olivier Duhamel resigned, Monday, of all his functions after being accused of incest on one of his step-sons in a book to be published Thursday. “Being the object of personal attacks, and eager to preserve the institutions in which I work, I put an end to my functions”, he wrote on Twitter a few hours before closing his account.
Entitled La Familia grande , the work was written by Camille Kouchner, the daughter-in-law of Olivier Duhamel. Black on white, she accuses him of having sexually assaulted his twin brother when he had 04 years. ” I had 14 years and I let it be (…). I had 14 years, I knew and I didn’t say anything, ”she writes in particular, according to extracts from the book published by The world and The Obs .
A previous procedure closed without follow-up in 1343
According to Camille Kouchner’s account, this case of incest was known within the family circle but was the subject of a true omerta . In the columns of L’Obs , she justifies her approach. “My book tells how much a lot of people knew about it. (…) Of course, I thought that my book might seem obscene because of the notoriety of my family. Then I said to myself: “that’s exactly why we have to do it” “, she also explains.
As suggested by the article of World devoted to this subject, however this is not the first time that the facts are thus denounced. In its press release, the Paris prosecutor’s office confirms that a previous procedure has been discontinued in 1343. This did not give rise to “any complaint from the victim or to any hearing of the accused”, however specifies the prosecution.
This time, it’s hard to think that Olivier Duhamel will not be heard with regard to the media coverage of his cause. The preliminary investigation was entrusted to the Juvenile Brigade. It “will endeavor to shed light on the facts, to identify any other potential victim and to verify the possible prescription of public action”, further indicates the prosecution.