The former boss of a support center for new arrivals accused of sexual crimes against dozens of girls in Mali will remain detained until the end of his trial. Gilles Provencher committed “ignoble, odious and perverse” crimes, according to the judge.
“The accused allegedly recruited dozens of vulnerable children with the help of accomplices. He paid money to gradually bring them to satisfy his vile, odious and perverse fantasies. He did not limit himself to using little girls, since two children under the age of two were involved,” said Judge Christian M. Tremblay on Friday at the Montreal courthouse.
Gilles Provencher faces 13 charges, including production of child pornography, incitement to sexual contact of a minor and luring. Detained for about a year, the 77-year-old Montrealer wanted to regain his freedom during the legal process.
However, Judge Tremblay concluded that public confidence in the administration of justice would be undermined if Gilles Provencher were released. This is one of the criteria provided for in the law.
The crimes accused of Gilles Provencher are very serious. A respected figure in the community world, he has long directed Carrefour Solidarité Anjou, an organization that helps new arrivals. However, he was probably living a double life. Day after day, he searched online for new victims. “It was his lifestyle,” testified the investigator at the inquiry into his release.
For years, Gilles Provencher allegedly recruited around thirty girls and teenagers in Mali with the help of accomplices. He targeted “deprived and vulnerable” children, according to Judge Tremblay. In a typical case of grooming, the accused gradually desensitized his victims to sexuality, according to the Crown.
Over the months, Gilles Provencher led the little girls to undress, then to make sexual gestures with other children or with women. “We have photos of the child with at the top: “Mme Provencher”. We have photos of the production of child pornography with the accused in a mortise position,” said Judge Tremblay.
At the release hearing, Crown prosecutor Me Hugo Rousse mentioned a potential sentence of at least 8 to 10 years in penitentiary. The defense did not raise any serious defense, noted the judge. “The evidence is strong and clearly demonstrates the involvement of the accused,” he added.
At the start of the hearing, defense lawyer Me Jonas Fadeu attacked the media by suggesting to Judge Tremblay that an article by The Press on this case was an “attempt to put pressure on the Court”.
“No one puts pressure on me. Journalists are welcome in my room at any time. Justice is public,” ruled Judge Tremblay.
The file will return next July.