Haut-Rhin. A 71-year-old physiotherapist convicted on appeal for raping four patients in his office

Found guilty at first instance, a physiotherapist was convicted on appeal by the Haut-Rhin Assize Court on Wednesday December 4, 2024. The 71-year-old man was accused of raping four patients. The acts were committed between 2010 and 2016 in his office, reports France 3 Grant Est .

These women had come to consult him for multiple health problems. The judges found that the physiotherapist had violated them by abusing the authority given to him by his profession.

For their part, the experts demonstrated that the alleged acts were not medical acts. Furthermore, no consent had been requested.

Permanent ban on practicing one's profession

The defendant admitted the facts during this trial which was held behind closed doors. “He recognized the acts, but not the qualification of the acts”deplores one of the victims interviewed by our colleagues. In his defense, he also said that he had taken the behavior of one of his clients for a sexual invitation, our colleagues point out.

In accordance with the conviction handed down at first instance almost a year ago, the septuagenarian received ten years in prison and was permanently banned from practicing his profession.

At the end of August, it was a physiotherapist masseur from Saint-Malo (Ille-et-Vilaine) who was indicted for sexual assault after complaints filed by three patients. A judicial investigation was opened following his custody.