Allegations Against Former Official
Hiyam Zarouri, now 35, recalls feeling hopeful when contacted by a senior civil servant from France's culture ministry on LinkedIn. The official, Christian Negre, offered career guidance to the then-unemployed 25-year-old. However, their meeting left her in agony and deeply humiliated.
Zarouri alleges that Negre secretly added a strong diuretic to her coffee, leading to urgent physical discomfort. He then insisted on a lengthy walk through central Paris while she wore high heels. "I started to have cold sweats, chills and hot flashes, a bloated stomach, and my feet really, really hurt," she told AFP. "I thought I was going to die."
Widespread Accusations
Zarouri is among approximately 200 women who have accused Negre, a former human resources manager, of similar acts. They claim he spiked their hot beverages to demean them, observing their suffering as they struggled with the effects. Some were compelled to relieve themselves in his presence.
Unlike others, Zarouri managed to return to the ministry to use a restroom. Afterward, she blamed herself for the incident. "I told myself it was my fault," she said. It wasn't until media reports emerged four years later that she realized the truth.
Legal Proceedings and Concerns
Negre has been charged with administering harmful substances without consent, sexual assault through authority abuse, and privacy invasion. Investigators found that between 2009 and 2018, he targeted 197 female job seekers of various ages, documenting their names and reactions in a spreadsheet.
Many victims, including Zarouri, express frustration over the slow investigation. "It's unacceptable," she stated. "He needs to be kept away from other women." Negre admitted in 2018 to imposing humiliating situations on women during interviews and was fired by the ministry in 2019. Reports indicate he later worked under a pseudonym as a teacher in Normandy.
Broader Context and Support
France has seen increased awareness of drug-facilitated abuse, highlighted by recent high-profile cases. The Women's Foundation, a feminist group, has provided legal aid to 45 accusers, emphasizing the case's significance. "It's 200 women whose dignity can be trampled, whose only interesting feature is a line on an Excel spreadsheet," said Floriane Volt of the foundation.
Investigation Challenges
The probe faces delays due to the high number of victims, limited resources, and administrative burdens. In Paris, investigating magistrates handle about 100 cases each, prioritizing those with detained suspects. A single clerk must notify all 197 civil parties via registered mail for each update, further slowing progress.
Investigators plan to meet complainants early next year to provide updates. A criminal trial may take time to organize, but an administrative court awarded one woman damages in 2023, holding the French state liable for failing to protect her and six others. In that instance, the victim was forced to urinate in front of Negre under a bridge in 2012.
