Having always refused to submit to French justice, it was in his absence that Mansour Labaky was sentenced this Monday to 15 years imprisonment by the criminal court of Calvados. Her lawyer will have obtained neither the referral she requested at the start of the hearing, nor the acquittal she pleaded at the end. Opposite, it is relief for the victims present. Even for those for whom the facts are prescribed.
“He blessed me by caressing my breasts and kissing me on the mouth”
Because the enormous aura from which he benefited at the time and the influence that the 81-year-old Maronite priest still has in Lebanon, weighed down a leaden hat which was heavy to lift. Yet the testimonies are overwhelming. All tell similar facts. His obsession with young girls, his sexual games and the guilt they all felt. Feeling at fault. “He raped me and then asked me to confess“says one.”He blessed me caressing my breasts, kissing me on the mouth“reports another. Her niece made the trip especially to the United States for testimony. Orphan of father, she is raped by the one who was the spiritual guide of the family. Her charisma is such that no one believes them when they try to But for all of them, the facts were revealed too late and are time-barred.
Mansour Labaky, already condemned in 2012 by ecclesiastical justice
It was the stubbornness of a nun that made it possible to take the case to ecclesiastical justice and lead to the conviction of Mansour Labaky in 2012. And there, the violent memories resurfaced. “I remembered the caresses, then the blowjobs, her body on mine and the rape“says the only one who is a civil party to the lawsuit. She was 13 years old. For two others, the facts are not prescribed either. These two orphans of the war in Lebanon were raped at 8 and 11 years old.”He told me he would love me like a father, I lost mine when I was 5, I didn’t know what it was“said the youngest to investigators. They did not have the strength to be there. But they were waiting for this trial,”to put an end to these demons that haunt me“wrote the elder in a letter read to the audience.
“We must show the victims that their courage was not in vain”
“It is odious to have thus abused his quality of priest to submit his victims“accuses Advocate General Pascal Chaux. Who claims at least 15 years of imprisonment for”show them that their courage was not in vain“. After two hours of deliberation, the criminal court followed its requisitions”for the psychological consequences on the victims and the attack on the institution he was supposed to defend“.
The accused having been tried by default, the appeal is not possible. The international arrest warrant issued against him in 2014 continues to produce its effects, the court explained. The only possible recourse is to oppose the judgment. But for this case to be re-examined, Mansour Labaky must either be taken prisoner or be arrested.
The only civil party in the lawsuit claimed 117,000 euros in damages. Given the late hour of the verdict (11:50 p.m.), the court has put its decision on civil interests under advisement and will announce it on Friday morning at 9 a.m.