A former French culture ministry HR manager faces charges for allegedly spiking nearly 200 women’s drinks with a diuretic during job interviews.
PARIS: A former senior official at France’s culture ministry stands accused of spiking the drinks of nearly 200 women during job interviews to humiliate them.
Christian Negre, a former human resources manager, allegedly administered a powerful diuretic to his victims between 2009 and 2018.
One accuser, Hiyam Zarouri, said Negre contacted her on LinkedIn when she was 25 and jobless, offering career advice.
She claims he spiked her coffee before taking her on a long walk in high heels through central Paris.
“I started to have cold sweats, chills and hot flashes, a bloated stomach, and my feet really, really hurt,” Zarouri told AFP.
“I thought I was going to die.”
Investigators allege Negre preyed on 197 women job-seekers, meticulously logging their names and reactions in a spreadsheet.
Many victims say he watched them writhe in pain, with some forced to relieve themselves in front of him.
Negre was charged with administering a harmful substance, sexual assault by a person abusing authority, and invasion of privacy.
He admitted in 2018 to having “imposed humiliating situations on women” and was fired by the ministry the following year.
Victims like Zarouri feel the judicial investigation is progressing too slowly.
“It’s unacceptable,” she said.
“He needs to be kept away from other women.”
The Women’s Foundation, which is supporting 45 accusers, says the case bears the hallmarks of sexual abuse.
“It’s 200 women whose dignity can be trampled,” said the foundation’s Floriane Volt.
A source close to the case cited overstretched magistrates and complex paperwork for the delays.
Each of the 197 civil parties must be informed of procedural steps by registered mail.
An administrative court in 2023 found the French state guilty for failing to protect seven victims, awarding one woman EUR 12,000 in damages.
Investigators are scheduled to meet all complainants early next year to provide an update.
