Three investigations were entrusted to the gendarmerie after reports made by the military school of Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan (Morbihan) for
“acts of a sexual nature committed within”
the institution, we learned Thursday from the Rennes parquet floor.
“The Rennes military prosecutor's office received three reports (...) from the management of the Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan military academy dated November 2, 16 and 29, 2023 for acts of a sexual nature committed within of the Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan military academy between students between July and November 2023
,” said public prosecutor Philippe Astruc, interviewed by AFP following a report broadcast on Wednesday by France 2.
No complaints
General Hervé de Courrèges, commander of Saint-Cyr, told AFP on Thursday evening that an additional report had been made that same day.
“We took the responsibility of making a report today following the France 2 report which revealed to us an alleged sexual assault that neither I nor my superiors knew about,”
he said. Regarding this report, which, according to France 2, involves a supervisory officer,
“we do not know who it is, neither the author nor the victim. Justice will shed light on this denunciation
,” continued the commander.
“Zero tolerance applies to everyone with a logic of authority which can be aggravating in the present case
,” he noted.
Regarding the first three reports,
“there are no complaints from potential victims. The investigations were entrusted to the Ploërmel research brigade
,” Mr. Astruc said. Questioned by AFP, the Saint-Cyr command confirmed that,
“the command of the Military Academy referred the matter to the Rennes military prosecutor by reporting Article 40 for three cases”
.
“These three cases were the subject of an internal command investigation. One (of these cases) which occurred in July 2023, led to a firm sanction of the offending student of 30 days of suspension followed by the termination of his contract. This student is therefore no longer in the military. The case is still being investigated by the public prosecutor
,” the Saint-Cyr command said.
“For two other cases that occurred in November 2023, the command investigation was unable to conclude that the truth had been established. Also, when in doubt, the command reported the facts to the public prosecutor. Gendarmerie investigations are underway
,” according to the command of the institution. Since 2020, recalled General de Courrèges, Saint-Cyr has set up an
“alert chain”
, a network to fight against harassment, discrimination as well as sexual and gender-based violence (HDVS). This network of more than 40 correspondents, military executives, civilians and cadets from all directions allows potential victims or witnesses to come and report facts. Its composition is renewed every year.
Each promotion includes on average 10% women. The France 2 report generally evoked a particularly heavy climate within the institution for female officer cadets.