First aid worker at the service of the Red Cross since 2007, charismatic trainer of young volunteers ... and sexual aggressor, attracted by adolescents. It is a somber portrait of Romuald (the first name of the defendant has been changed) which takes shape at the time of the opening of a preliminary investigation by the Nanterre prosecution (Hauts-de-Seine) in March 2019.
Originally, the denunciation of a Red Cross volunteer who claimed to be the victim of sexual assault. Aged 17 at the time of the events, he filed a complaint, imitated by two other volunteers from the Antony branch. They file a complaint for "sexual harassment" and "malicious phone calls". In total, six victims are identified over a period from 2017 to 2019. Last June, Romuald, 37, was indicted in particular for "sexual assault by person having authority" and placed in pre-trial detention. At the end of the summer, a seventh victim was identified. This time, nothing to do with the Red Cross.
This young man is said to have undergone a fellatio in May 2016 during a massage session performed by Romuald in return for housework. After spending eight months behind bars, the 30-year-old was released on February 13, under judicial supervision, and has just returned to work in a call center. Contacted, the defendant's lawyer pointed to a runaway court. "The investigations show that justice has been carried too quickly and that the accusations targeting my client must be taken with more care," advises Me Sahand Saber. This partly explains why he was released. "
Vulnerable youth
At first glance, this slightly wrapped bachelor has all the attributes of an altruistic and caring volunteer. Intervention manager, he is also responsible for welcoming and training new recruits. A real papa hen. But Romuald also has the annoying habit of flooding some of the new volunteers with messages. Written traces which inform the investigators.
To initiate rapprochement with his protégés, he first creates an enveloping climate based on nicknames like "loulou" or "pioupiou", is interested in their food or clothing tastes, sends them affectionate words, photos and little ones. gifts. Then the conversations sometimes take a more intimate turn and drift on sexuality. Then Romuald offers revision sessions at his home, with a view to passing the first aid diplomas. "He approached adolescents and young people who lack confidence," said one of the complainants after the fact. Then he did everything to develop an exclusive relationship. "
But Romuald does not see it that way. Despite the age gap, he believes that with some young people, at least two of them, a sentimental relationship is being formed. An impression confirmed by certain external testimonies collected by the police. The main stakeholders, on the contrary, maintain that Romuald's feelings towards them were not reciprocal.
Could an ambiguity have arisen despite everything, against a background of generalized emotional immaturity? Several young people have agreed, without physical constraint, to spend the night at their elder's home, sometimes in bed after sharing a bath. It is in this context that the main complainant claims to have suffered fellatio and touching during one night in April 2018. He was then only 17 years old and would not have dared to react immediately. Faced with the police, the respondent admitted the existence of "hugs" and "hugs" but denied any other tort.
Several alerts since 2012
Could these ambiguous or toxic relationships have developed without local Red Cross officials being aware of them? Already in 2012, the name of Romuald flashed on the radars of the humanitarian association. Author by SMS of a proposal of a sexual nature intended for a 15 year old volunteer, he had acknowledged the facts before being downgraded with the status of "simple volunteer". Two years later, in 2014, the antenna of Châtenay-Malabry asked him to pack his bags for an unknown reason. He then joined Antony's neighbors. Where he was talking about him again in March 2018 after receiving a candidate at his home, simply dressed in underpants. After a mea-culpa with his managers, the latter then decided to "give him a chance".
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Civil party in this case, the French Red Cross did not wish to comment on these antecedents but wishes to reiterate its role, from the start of the procedure. "The Red Cross immediately made a report to the police as soon as the testimonies were collected in March 2019, warned the families, suspended the volunteer and accompanied the victims in their process of filing a complaint," reports his service. communication.