The criminal case of Christian Ngret, a former senior official of the French Ministry of Culture, has become a worrying symbol of the challenges judicial systems face in dealing with complex crimes and invisible harm.
He is accused of systematically and over a long period, abusing his administrative and professional position to poison more than 240 women during interview meetings under various pretexts. The main charge is the use of diuretics to place victims in physically and psychologically humiliating situations—a method classified in criminology as chemical submission for the purpose of domination and humiliation. Despite the accused’s detailed records and the initiation of police investigations since 2019, the case has not yet reached trial. This prolonged delay has itself become a factor intensifying the suffering of the survivors.
Victims Protest the Slowness of the Judicial Process
Sylvie Delzenne, one of the victims in this case, recently voiced her feelings openly, emphasizing that this agonizingly slow pace of justice prolongs and intensifies the psychological trauma. These statements are not merely an individual grievance but reflect a structural secondary harm. Many victims feel that, in the eyes of the judicial system and sometimes public opinion, because the violence did not involve direct, conventional physical harm like assault, they are placed at the lowest level of the victim hierarchy. This feeling of being overlooked and of their suffering being minimized imposes a double psychological burden and severely disrupts the healing process. In an uncertain wait, while struggling to overcome trauma, they are also forced to fight for the recognition of the legitimacy of their suffering.
The Complex Dimensions of an Unconventional Crime
The charges against Ngret have formed a case that is rare in its nature. These acts occurred not in secret, but under the guise of official administrative meetings and job interviews, stemming from an abuse of institutional trust and power. The nature of the crime—aimed not merely at physical harm but at creating shock, humiliation, and psychological subjugation in the victim—distinguishes it from common patterns of violence. According to psychologists, victims of such crimes, where their sense of bodily security and autonomy is violated, often develop post-traumatic stress disorder, severe anxiety, and lasting distrust of professional and formal environments. The protracted judicial process extends this distrust to the institution of justice itself.
Fundamental Questions for the Justice System
This case is a mirror forcing the French judicial system, and perhaps many similar systems, to confront fundamental questions. Are existing legal mechanisms efficient and swift enough to handle crimes that are primarily psychological and non-physical in nature? How can effective psychological and social support be provided throughout complex and lengthy investigations to victims who may lack tangible, immediate evidence of violence but have suffered deep harm? Recognizing the concept of psychological violence in law is the first step, but its practical implementation and pursuit in complex cases are the true test for realizing justice.
In conclusion, the case of Christian Ngret is not just the trial of an individual; it is a test of the justice system’s capacity to adapt to new and complex forms of violence. The final outcome of this case and the victims’ experience along the way will send a message beyond France’s borders: Can justice address invisible harm in a timely manner, or will its inherent slowness become part of the cycle of harm? The answer to this question will determine public trust in institutions’ ability to protect the most vulnerable from the abuse of power.
euronews