Sun Feb 09 03:56:05 UTC 2025: ## French Police Officer Ordered to Pay €1,000 for Insulting Sexual Assault Complainant
**PARIS** – A French police officer has been ordered to pay €1,000 in damages to a woman he insulted after she filed a sexual assault complaint, a Paris appeals court ruled on January 30th. The officer, who cannot be named, called the 34-year-old woman a “whore” multiple times in a voicemail message after she reported the assault in February 2022.
The incident sparked outrage and drew criticism from activists who highlighted it as an example of how victims of sexual violence are treated by some police officers. Former Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin even called for the officer’s dismissal.
While a lower court acquitted the officer of criminal charges in January 2024, the appeals court found that his language was offensive and targeted the woman because of her sex. The court acknowledged the officer’s apologies, but ruled that his claims the insults were due to procedural irregularities were insufficient.
The woman’s lawyer, Arie Alimi, stated the case was crucial in highlighting bias against victims of sexual violence and police misconduct. The officer’s lawyer has yet to comment on the ruling. The €1,000 payment represents a significant symbolic victory for the complainant and advocates for improved treatment of sexual assault victims within the French justice system.
First Piper 