Ex French minister Georges Tron face trial for rape. | AibryitAur
A French mayor and ex government minister has
gone on trial accused of raping two former
municipal employees.
Both women allege that Georges Tron, mayor of
Draveil, assaulted them between 2007 and 2010
alongside a female councillor, Brigitte Gruel.
They say the pair invited them for foot massage
sessions before attacking them. Mr Tron and Ms
Gruel deny wrongdoing.
Mr Tron resigned as junior minister for civil
service when the allegations surfaced in 2011.
A defence lawyer quoted by AFP news agency
argues that political opponents used Mr Tron's
practice of reflexology to portray him as a
fetishist and a criminal.
Mr Tron and Mrs Gruel, who are both 60, went on
trial on Tuesday in Bobigny, north of Paris, on
charges of group rape.
The nature of their alleged offences means they
would be classified as assault by penetration in
the UK.
Their accusers, Virginie Ettel and Eva Loubrieu,
say that when they were hired Mr Tron told them
he was a keen practitioner of reflexology.
They say they were pressured into taking part in
reflexology sessions, some of them conducted
with Ms Gruel.
The sessions began with foot massages, but
developed into sexual assault and rape, the
former employees contend.
In 2010 Ms Ettel quit her secretarial job after two
years and tried to commit suicide, Le Monde
reports. Ms Loubrieu, who was hired in 2007, was
sacked for alleged theft in 2009, the newspaper
adds.
The defendants could face sentences of up to 20
years in jail if convicted.
gone on trial accused of raping two former
municipal employees.
Both women allege that Georges Tron, mayor of
Draveil, assaulted them between 2007 and 2010
alongside a female councillor, Brigitte Gruel.
They say the pair invited them for foot massage
sessions before attacking them. Mr Tron and Ms
Gruel deny wrongdoing.
Mr Tron resigned as junior minister for civil
service when the allegations surfaced in 2011.
A defence lawyer quoted by AFP news agency
argues that political opponents used Mr Tron's
practice of reflexology to portray him as a
fetishist and a criminal.
Mr Tron and Mrs Gruel, who are both 60, went on
trial on Tuesday in Bobigny, north of Paris, on
charges of group rape.
The nature of their alleged offences means they
would be classified as assault by penetration in
the UK.
Their accusers, Virginie Ettel and Eva Loubrieu,
say that when they were hired Mr Tron told them
he was a keen practitioner of reflexology.
They say they were pressured into taking part in
reflexology sessions, some of them conducted
with Ms Gruel.
The sessions began with foot massages, but
developed into sexual assault and rape, the
former employees contend.
In 2010 Ms Ettel quit her secretarial job after two
years and tried to commit suicide, Le Monde
reports. Ms Loubrieu, who was hired in 2007, was
sacked for alleged theft in 2009, the newspaper
adds.
The defendants could face sentences of up to 20
years in jail if convicted.
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