The former director and chief doctor of Sdis de l’Isère were indicted this Friday for “involuntary manslaughter” and “moral harassment” in the investigation into the suicide of a professional firefighter which occurred in February 2021.
Two people prosecuted in the investigation into the suicide of a fire brigade corporal. The former director, André Benkemoun, and the chief doctor of the Departmental Fire and Rescue Service of Isère (Sdis 38) were indicted this Friday, May 31 for “involuntary manslaughter” and “moral harassment”, indicated the Grenoble public prosecutor, confirming information from the Dauphiné Libéré.
None of them is the subject of judicial control measures, according to the regional daily. The two men were taken into police custody on Wednesday and interviewed by investigators following letters rogatory from two investigating judges. At the same time, searches were carried out in the premises of the Sdis management in Fontaine as well as the Pont-de-Chéruy barracks, where the firefighter who killed himself was assigned.
Cyrille Minard, fire chief sergeant, committed suicide at his home on February 8, 2021 at the age of 45. The union representative, in conflict with his management, was then on sick leave due to serious depression. A complaint against
In addition to the criminal aspect of the case, the Grenoble administrative court ruled in 2022, after a long legal battle taken up by the victim’s wife, that there existed “a direct link between Mr. Minard’s illness and the service”, which Sdis did not recognize at the time. The judicial investigation will continue to determine the involvement of the two defendants.
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