Marc Adida, a psychiatrist from Marseille, received a 12-year prison sentence for raping multiple patients, despite the prosecution seeking 18 years due to his mental health issues. The court acknowledged his diminished responsibility linked to bipolar disorder but criticized his manipulative behavior. Victims recounted traumatic experiences, feeling like “puppets” under his control. Adida will also face five years of socio-judicial monitoring after release, with potential penalties for non-compliance. His defense highlighted systemic failures within the institution.
Verdict Delivered in Marc Adida Case
After an intense five-day hearing, the decision has been made. Marc Adida, a psychiatrist from a Marseille hospital, faced serious allegations of raping multiple patients, whom he allegedly manipulated as his ‘puppets.’ On Friday, the Bouches-du-Rhône criminal court handed down a sentence of 12 years in prison, while acknowledging his diminished responsibility linked to bipolar disorder.
This ruling is notably lighter than the 18-year sentence that public prosecutor Vinciane de Jongh sought, as she urged the court to overlook the implications of his mental health condition.
Controversy Over Diminished Responsibility
During the proceedings, the prosecutor highlighted the troubling patterns of Adida’s behavior, asserting that he did not exhibit diminished responsibility at the time of the offenses. The magistrate emphasized that the psychiatrist had manipulated his victims, inducing a state of extreme dependence upon them.
Besides his prison term, the court mandated that Adida, now 52, undergo five years of socio-judicial monitoring post-release, which includes a treatment requirement. Failure to comply could lead to an additional three years in prison and a permanent prohibition from practicing medicine.
The legal benefits of diminished responsibility reduced the potential maximum sentence from 20 years to just over 13 years. Adida, who has been in provisional detention since October 2020, was tried for the rapes of three patients and the sexual assault of a fourth.
Victims Share Their Harrowing Experiences
The victims, suffering from various mental health challenges, recounted their traumatic experiences in court. One victim described feeling like a “robot” or a “puppet” under Adida’s influence. While he initially presented himself as a ‘savior,’ these women quickly found themselves trapped in a cycle of abuse.
One victim recounted a chilling encounter, stating, “I was paralyzed, out of my body,” revealing the profound psychological impact of the assault. In a desperate attempt to communicate her suffering, she even resorted to self-harm, hoping to convey her distress visually.
Another victim, who was frequently taken to hotels by Adida, expressed that he did not physically overpower her but exploited her vulnerabilities. In court, victims described his alarming claims, including bizarre assertions about having “2% angels” and that he was “stealing his sperm” for others to conceive high-potential children.
During his defense, lawyer Me Christophe Pinel portrayed Adida as a “man on the ground,” stressing his bipolar condition while acknowledging the importance of the victims’ testimonies. He criticized the management of AP-HM for allowing such abuses to persist within the institution, only to be exposed by law enforcement.