A 74-year-old man in Belgium has been sentenced to five years in prison for sexually assaulting a young boy with Down’s syndrome. The retired doctor, who practiced in Liège, received the sentence with one-third suspended after a trial at the Liège Court of Appeal. The abuse occurred in March and May 2021, with the victim reporting being assaulted twice by the perpetrator, who maintained a close relationship with the boy’s father. One incident took place during a shared shower at the doctor’s residence after a sports activity, while the details of the other assault were less clear. Despite the defendant’s denial, inconsistencies in his explanation of being in the shower with the child were noted. Physical evidence of abuse was found during a medical examination, and a psychological assessment described the former GP as having a narcissistic personality.
The defendant had previously received a five-year sentence with two-thirds suspended in a trial last September. Prosecutors had sought a six-year term due to the victim’s vulnerability, while the defendant’s legal team had argued for acquittal or a suspended sentence. This case follows a similar high-profile incident in France, where a surgeon named Joel Le Scouarnec was convicted of sexually abusing numerous individuals, most of whom were underage patients, over several decades. Le Scouarnec admitted to numerous rapes and assaults, leading to a maximum 20-year prison sentence. His victims included both male and female patients, with the abuse documented in electronic diaries spanning three decades. The surgeon’s respected position in the medical field had shielded him from consequences for an extended period.
Le Scouarnec maintained detailed records of his abusive actions and, shockingly, expressed pride in his pedophilic behavior in his diaries.