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The founder of the LGBT + association "Le refuge" indicted for rape and sexual assault

2022-01-21T17:43:57.146Z


Nicolas Noguier is also being prosecuted with his companion for "hidden work" and "moral harassment" by several volunteers from the association.


Nicolas Noguier, the founding president of Refuge, an association for helping young victims of homophobia rejected by their families, was indicted on Thursday for "

rape

" and "

sexual assault

", a press release from the public prosecutor's office said on Friday January 21. Montpelier.

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He was released and placed under judicial supervision at the end of his police custody as part of an investigation opened in February 2021 after the filing of several complaints and reports by former volunteers.

The police custody began on Tuesday and “

lasted more than 24 hours

”, specifies in

Figaro

, one of his lawyers, Me Stéphane Fernandez.

"

He was not placed in pre-trial detention because the charges against him are far too insufficient, we are confident for the rest of the procedure and we are appealing this indictment

", he continues.

Rape and sexual assault

"

Nicolas Noguier has been indicted for an act of rape and an act of sexual assault

", indicates the prosecutor of the Republic of Montpellier Fabrice Belargent in the press release.

The companion of Nicolas Noguier, co-founder and ex-director of the Refuge, Frédéric Gal, was also indicted "

for two acts of sexual harassment

", adds the magistrate.

During the investigation, a number of people did not confirm the facts listed in the initial writings, but five confirmed that they had been victims of sexual offenses by the two men.

Disputed facts

Nicolas Noguier and Frédéric Gal disputed all of the facts with which they are charged. Me Fernandez indicates that his client has filed a complaint for slanderous denunciation and blackmail against two plaintiffs who accuse him of sexual assault. One of the individuals concerned would have entered into a relationship with Nicolas Noguier on a dating site, according to the lawyer. The former president of the Refuge would have sent a photo of his sex and his face by SMS without knowing the identity of his interlocutor. The latter would then have begged for a sexual exchange and, faced with the refusal of Nicolas Noguier, would have threatened to disclose the photos.

“It is a manipulation against him. We want to socially kill Mr. Noguier”,

denounces Me Stéphane Fernandez

.

For the time being, the founder of the Refuge and his companion are prohibited from coming into contact with the complainants and from exercising an activity in regular contact with minors or vulnerable people.

A judicial inquiry has been opened.

“Structural dysfunctions”

of the foundation

The two men were also indicted for concealed work and moral harassment of several employees and volunteers of the foundation.

After eighteen years at the head of the Refuge, an important association within the LGBT + community, the two men had resigned in February 2021 from their functions as president and director after the publication in December of a vitriolic article by

Médiapart

on their internal management.

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A partial audit then pointed to "

structural dysfunctions (...) requiring a strong and urgent reaction

", stressing that this foundation having experienced "

strong growth

" was based on "

a completely artisanal operation

".

He noted “

a climate of mistrust and malaise at work of a significant part of the actors

” of the association.

The shelter is the only state-approved structure that offers accommodation and medico-social support to young adults living in difficult situations because they are victims of homophobia.

At the national level, the foundation has about thirty employees for 450 volunteers.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2022-01-21

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