Dino Scala Requests to be Heard Amid New Rape Investigation
Dino Scala, infamously known as 'the rapist of the Sambre', has once again come under judicial scrutiny. Currently serving a 20-year prison sentence, Scala has requested to be heard by the courts in connection with a new investigation involving multiple counts of rape and sexual assault. His lawyer, Margaux Mathieu, emphasized that Scala has not been summoned or heard, which deprives him of the opportunity to access the case file and defend himself.
New Allegations and Ongoing Investigation
The judicial investigation, which began in March 2023, focuses on a series of rapes, attempted rapes, and sexual assaults on 14 victims between 1988 and 2009. Additionally, authorities are examining two new reports from women who claim they were attacked in 1987. Scala was previously sentenced in July 2022 for 54 rapes and other related crimes committed between 1988 and 2018 near the Sambre river, both in France and Belgium. Despite admitting to 40 of these charges, he contested 16.
The Dual Facade of Dino Scala
The initial trial revealed a complex personality, with Scala presenting a stark contrast between his public and private lives. A well-integrated worker, married father, and football coach, Scala's hidden life of crime shocked many. An expert psychiatrist described an 'abyss' between his social face and hidden face. This duality was further explored in a mini-series titled 'Sambre,' which was broadcast at the end of 2023 on France 2.
- Scala's lawyer, Margaux Mathieu, has highlighted the continued media coverage of Scala as the main suspect in the new investigation, stressing the importance of him being heard to exercise his legal rights.
- The Valenciennes public prosecutor's office confirmed in May 2023 that the investigation includes crimes attributed to Scala between 1988 and 2009. The justice system is also considering two additional reports from 1987.
- Scala's trial in July 2022 did not fully unravel the mystery surrounding his double life. His brief apologies to the victims during the hearing did little to resolve the stark contrast between his public persona and his criminal activities.
