The trial of a 37-year-old osteopath opens this Monday before the Bas-Rhin Criminal Court in Strasbourg. Twenty-two women have filed civil suits and accuse the practitioner of raping or sexually assaulting them during consultations at his office in the Strasbourg Eurometropolis. The defendant, who is appearing in court while free on bail, faces up to twenty years in prison.
According to the plaintiffs, the events took place under the guise of therapeutic procedures. Their lawyer emphasizes that the issue of "therapeutic trust" will be central to the proceedings, as the patients believe they were placed in a vulnerable position in the presence of a healthcare professional. The osteopath denies all the accusations. His lawyer maintains that there was "no sexual element" to the alleged actions and refers to them as mere "professional misconduct."
An expanded investigation based on several testimonies
The case originated with an initial complaint filed in 2018 by a patient who claimed that the practitioner had put his hand under her clothes during a session. Following several new reports starting in 2020, investigators expanded their inquiries. A questionnaire sent to all 470 patients listed in the practice's records identified a significantly larger number of alleged victims. Some reported inappropriate touching, others digital rape.
The proceedings are expected to be held publicly until June 12. The plaintiffs hope that this trial will establish the defendant's responsibility and encourage other potential victims to come forward. The practitioner, who has been under formal investigation for over four years, has been prohibited from practicing osteopathy since the start of the legal proceedings.
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