The alleged rapist appeared “cultured and charismatic” and groomed youngsters, the prosecutor mentioned.
Leveugle is accused of sexually abusing boys aged 13 to 17 between 1967 and 2022 (Picture: Gendarmerie Nationale)
French authorities have issued a uncommon worldwide attraction for witnesses after a 79-year-old retired instructor was charged with the aggravated rape and sexual assault of 89 youngsters spanning greater than 5 many years and 5 continents.
Prosecutors in Grenoble revealed that the suspect, Jacques Leveugle, has been held in custody since 2024 and formally positioned below investigation for crimes courting again to the late Sixties.
Leveugle is accused of sexually abusing boys aged 13 to 17 between 1967 and 2022 whereas working in a spread of roles – together with as a instructor, tutor and youth teacher – in nations throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, and past.
Enchantment for witnesses printed by Gendarmerie Nationale (Picture: Gendarmerie Nationale)
The French police have circulated an attraction for victims and witnesses to return ahead, saying lots of these recognized up to now had been recorded solely by nicknames or imprecise references within the suspect’s personal paperwork, making it tough to hint them.
Grenoble prosecutor Étienne Manteaux mentioned authorities had been searching for to determine extra hyperlinks to attainable victims earlier than concluding the investigation later this 12 months.
Leveugle’s alleged offending got here to mild after investigators had been handed a 15-volume “digital memoir” discovered on a USB drive by a relative. The writings reportedly contained detailed accounts of his crimes and enabled police to establish dozens of victims.
Leveugle, who was born within the Alpine city of Annecy, appeared “cultured and charismatic” and groomed youngsters, the prosecutor mentioned.
In an uncommon step below French regulation, prosecutors have printed the suspect’s identify within the hope that others who had been abused or who witnessed offences could now contact authorities.
The investigation has revealed that Leveugle labored with younger folks in nations together with Germany, Switzerland, Morocco, Algeria, Niger, the Philippines, India, Colombia and the French territory of New Caledonia.
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Authorities have pressured that the probe is a race in opposition to time, given the suspect’s superior age and the necessity to establish as many potential victims as attainable for attainable authorized motion.
Manteaux mentioned: “If victims wish to come ahead, they need to do this now as a result of we have to shut this investigation in 2026 with a view to maintain a trial in an inexpensive time-frame.”
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