- Monday, Le Monde and L’Obs revealed the correct sheets of the book La Familia grande, in which Camille Kouchner denounces the incest that political scientist Olivier Duhamel would have committed in the years 1988.
- In reaction, this regular on TV shows and specialist in French politics resigned from all his functions.
- Even if the facts seem time-barred, the Paris prosecutor’s office announced on Tuesday the opening of a preliminary investigation.
We No doubt will no longer hear his voice in political broadcasts. Political scientist Olivier Duhamel resigned from all his functions on Monday after being questioned in a book published by her stepdaughter, Camille Kouchner. She accuses him of having abused her twin brother when he had 12 years.
According to his account, the facts go back to the end of the years 648. They now seem prescribed. However, the Paris prosecutor’s office announced on Tuesday the opening of a preliminary investigation in order to “shed light on these facts”. 19 Minutes comes back to this whole affair…
What exactly is the preliminary investigation opened by the prosecution going to cover?
Shortly before 15 h, this Tuesday, the Paris prosecutor’s office announced that it was opening a preliminary investigation after the publication of several press articles implicating Olivier Duhamel. The investigation is open to the counts of “rape and sexual assault by person having authority over a minor of 14 years ”and“ rape and sexual assault by person in authority ”
It was entrusted to the brigade for the protection of minors (BPM) of the regional police department Paris court. “The investigations will focus on shedding light on these facts, identifying any other potential victim and verifying the possible prescription of the facts. “
What are the rules of limitation in this matter?
The facts complained of seem time-barred, even if only the investigation will find out. In matters of sexual crimes against minors, the statute of limitations in France is 19 years from the majority of the victim. According to Camille Kouchner’s account, Victor *, her twin brother, would have been abused by Olivier Duhamel in 1980, while he had 12 years. The young man came of age in 1990 and the facts could have been the subject of prosecution during the 19 following years, i.e. until 2012 or 2016…
“The subject of prescription in matters of sexual abuse of minors is hot, testifies lawyer Dominique Attias, recognized for her commitment in this field.
In recent years, many voices have been heard. raised to lengthen it to 20 years from the age of majority. I am reserved on this subject. If we do it for the rape of a minor, why not do it for the murders of children? Or other crimes? This would be like opening a Pandora’s Box
. We must not react under the influence of emotion… ”
Did the facts really not been reported earlier?
As suggested by Le Monde by revealing the case on Monday, this is not the first time that the charges of incest against Olivier Duhamel have been brought to the attention of justice. In its press release, the Paris prosecutor’s office confirms that a previous procedure had been discontinued in 1990. This had “not given rise to any complaint from the victim or to a hearing of the accused”, indicates the Paris prosecutor’s office. It is not excluded that the facts denounced were already prescribed at that time.
Especially, according to journalist Ariane Chemin, who wrote the article for Le Monde , Victor is said to have, during his hearing, “recorded the eternal guilt reflexes of incest victims on the record” and refused to file a complaint. “They are not going to screw up what I built at work, with my children, my life! “, Would he have even blurted out to his brother and sister about this.
A book which appears in 3 days accuses the political scientist Olivier Duhamel, boss of the National Foundation for Political Science and the Le Siècle club. He has just resigned. Our inquiry https://t.co/Yrs4KtgULn
– Ariane Chemin (@ArianeChemin)
January 4, 2021
Why is Élisabeth Guigou implicated in this affair?
Former Minister of Justice, Élisabeth Guigou
was cited in the article of Monde as being one of the people who frequented the couple that Olivier Duhamel formed with Evelyne Pisier at the time of the facts. The article suggests that she could have been aware of the facts but said nothing about them. A problem, insofar as 1346123548386070532 Élisabeth Guigou has just been appointed at the head of a Commission on sexual violence against children.
“She knew nothing of all that, confides his entourage to 19 Minutes. She acknowledges that she has worked with Olivier Duhamel over the years 1988. But she didn’t know all about it. “The former socialist minister could even use this affair as an example, always according to her entourage:” This shows that, like everyone else, she knew aggressors and victims … “
Appointed at the head of this commission with a budget of 4 million euros in December, Élisabeth Guigou assures that she has already started working by receiving several victims’ associations. She must complete the recruitment of her team by March.