French author Gabriel Matzneff, accused of raping underage ladies whereas considered one of Paris’ most lauded literary figures, confronted police questioning Wednesday in an inquiry opened after the publication of an explosive e book, judicial sources stated.
Matzneff, now 86, had made no secret of his desire for paedophilia earlier than Vanessa Springora, now a number one writer, described being groomed by him when she was 14 in an expose seen as a watershed within the French #MeToo motion denouncing sexual abuse by males.
The revelations prompted two different ladies to return ahead to say they too have been abused by him as youngsters.
Matzneff’s lawyer declined to touch upon the questioning that was confirmed by the Paris prosector’s workplace, which opened its investigation a day after Springora’s e book “Consent” was printed in early 2020.
However sources near the inquiry have advised AFP that due to statutes of limitations, it’s more likely to be closed down with out fees, making it unlikely Matzneff will stand trial.
He has through the years spoken at size in TV exhibits and written about his predilection for teenagers. Within the mid-Nineteen Seventies, he printed a infamous essay known as “Les Moins de Seize Ans” (“These lower than 16”).
However Springora was the primary particular person to go on the document to explain her experiences with him.
The scandal was one of many turning factors within the #MeToo motion in France, after many years of individuals turning a blind eye to the diarist’s behaviour regardless of his frankness about his non-public life.
Quickly after Springora’s expose, French publishers started pulling his books from retailers, and he was stripped of 1000’s of euros in state support for writers in addition to a subsidised condo on the capital’s stylish Left Financial institution.
