Police Officer Sentenced for Theft and Sexual Assault in Reims
A police officer from Reims has been sentenced to four years in prison for theft and sexual assault committed during the exercise of his duties. The Reims Criminal Court delivered the verdict on October 23, 2024, with a sentence of two years being firm. In addition to the prison time, the officer, who is a 27-year-old father, has been subjected to a compulsory treatment order and a permanent ban on working as a police officer. Following the sentencing, he was placed in custody after appearing free during the trial.
The officer was found guilty of two separate incidents occurring within nine months. The first incident took place on November 27, 2023, when he responded to a disturbance involving a drunken man armed with a knife. The man's wife, a mother of four from Kosovo, accused the officer of isolating her, stealing 250 euros, and sexually assaulting her by touching her breasts. This led to an investigation by the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN).
The second victim was a 20-year-old Romanian woman, who reported that the officer, in uniform, arrived alone at her residence and attempted to coerce her into lifting her dress. When she refused, he left, but she managed to take a photo of him. Both women were described as being in vulnerable situations, making them particularly susceptible to such behavior, as noted by Agnès Mercier, the lawyer representing the first victim, who has since returned to Kosovo.
During the trial, the officer maintained his innocence, claiming he did not understand how he could be accused of such acts. His defense attorney, Mourad Benkoussa, highlighted inconsistencies in the victims' testimonies and argued for the presumption of innocence. However, the court's findings revealed a troubling history for the officer, including a prior warning for inappropriate conduct towards young girls while at the national police school and a previous sanction for
unworthy behavior
according to IGPN records.
