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USA Today
6 days ago
- USA Today
French court convicts ex-surgeon of raping patients, sentenced to 20 years in prison
French court convicts ex-surgeon of raping patients, sentenced to 20 years in prison Joel Le Scouarnec's abuse of his patients is considered France's worst case of its kind to go to trial. He was accused of the aggravated rape or sexual assault of 299 victims. Show Caption Hide Caption French court sentences retired surgeon to 20 years in prison in child rape trial Former surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec has been found guilty. The 74-year old given the maximum 20-years behind bars after he admitted to sexually assaulting or raping nearly 300 patients. FMM - F24 Video Clips VANNES, France, May 28 (Reuters) – A French court on Wednesday found a retired surgeon guilty of sexually abusing hundreds of patients, many of them children, in a trial that has shaken France. Joel Le Scouarnec's abuse of his patients is considered France's worst case of child sexual abuse to go to trial. He was accused of aggravated rape or sexual assault against 299 victims. Le Scouarnec told the court he committed "despicable acts" over 25 years while he worked as a doctor in western France, in a trial that raised uncomfortable questions for the publicly run healthcare system. Le Scouarnec, 74, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Presiding Judge Aude Buresi, whose voice at times appeared to choke with emotion, said Le Scouarnec had preyed on victims when they were at their most vulnerable, including while they were under anesthesia. "Your acts were a blind spot in the medical world, to the extent that your colleagues, the medical authorities, were incapable of stopping your actions," the judge told Le Scouarnec. The court ordered that Le Scouarnec be placed on the sex offenders registry. The judge also barred Le Scouarnec from practicing medicine or having contact with minors. More: Colorado man sentenced to 210 years in prison for abusing children at orphanage During the trial, Le Scouarnec told the court he knew that the harm he had caused was irreparable. "I owe it to all these people and their loved ones to admit my actions and their consequences, which they've endured and will keep having to endure all their lives," he added. The judge said she understood many victims hoped Le Scouarnec would never walk out of prison, but that the law did not allow her to impose a life sentence. The trial took place at a time of reckoning around sex crimes in France after the conviction of Dominique Pelicot, who was found guilty in December of drugging his wife unconscious and inviting dozens of men to their home to rape her. Decades of abuse Le Scouarnec is already serving time for earlier rape convictions. In 2020, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the rape and sexual assault of a child neighbor, as well as his two nieces and a 4-year-old patient. Victims and their families have publicly asked why local and national health authorities failed to stop Le Scouarnec. In 2005, he was convicted of downloading images of child sexual abuse and received a suspended sentence, but managed to continue working in public hospitals. More: Over 200 alleged child sex offenders arrested nationwide after 5-day FBI crackdown Several dozen victims and rights campaigners gathered outside the courthouse ahead of the verdict, holding a banner made of hundreds of pieces of white paper with black silhouettes, one for each victim. Some papers bore a first name and age, while others referred to the victim as "Anonymous." The extent of Le Scouarnec's abuse was revealed after his re-arrest in 2017 on suspicion of raping his 6-year-old neighbor. Police discovered electronic diaries that appeared to detail more than two decades of rapes and sexual assaults on young patients in hospitals across the region, as well as a cache of sex dolls, wigs and child pornography. The trial took place in Vannes, a small town in Brittany. The local prosecutor, whose office led the investigation into Le Scouarnec, has opened a separate investigation to ascertain if people or agencies could have prevented the abuse.
The Star
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
‘Supply chains could be disrupted'
FMM cites knock-on effect from extended migrant repatriation programme PETALING JAYA: The extended Migrant Repatriation Programme 2.0 may have a knock-on effect on the nation's manufacturing sector due to disruptions in the supply chain, says the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers. Its president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai said while the programme would have little impact on the manufacturing industry as a whole, the sudden exit of foreign workers could disrupt supply chains. 'Our members mostly do not employ undocumented workers due to stringent audit requirements and high compliance expectations from both regulators and international clients. 'But the sudden departure of undocumented workers from other sectors, coupled with the current freeze on foreign worker recruitment, could result in a disruption to our supply chains and have a knock-on effect in various sectors, including manufacturing. 'The government must ensure a continuous and legally compliant supply of foreign workers to meet the needs of businesses and maintain industrial sustainability,' he said when contacted. For the programme to achieve success, Soh emphasised the necessity of implementing it alongside coordinated enforcement, public education and structural reforms aimed at addressing the underlying causes of undocumented employment. 'The misuse of business licences by locals, which enables undocumented workers to operate outside the legal employment system, is also a systemic issue that is unresolved,' he said. Soh suggested the government fast track the anti-Ali Baba law to prevent foreign workers from illegally operating businesses. 'We have consistently highlighted that this law is critical to tackling the root causes of undocumented employment and illegal business operations,' he added. Soh also said that more clarification is needed with regard to plans to allow foreign workers to transfer between employers across sectors. He said the proposal was merely communicated through an internal circular by the Immigration Department and lacked subsequent public clarity and implementation details. 'This has created uncertainty among employers and must be addressed promptly if the government intends for this mechanism to work in tandem with the repatriation programme,' he said. The government initially implemented the programme from March 1 to Dec 31 last year. It allowed undocumented migrants to return to their home countries without facing prosecution by paying a compound fine of between RM300 and RM500. On Friday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the programme would be extended until April 30 next year. Small and Medium Enterprises Association Malaysia president Datuk William Ng said the government should consider legalising undocumented migrant workers if they were already gainfully employed. 'If they entered Malaysia illegally, knowing full well they were going to be working without documentation, why would they surrender themselves?' he said when contacted. Unlike Singapore, Ng said Malaysia doid not have problems with regard to the availability of land for workers' housing. 'It makes little sense to approach the issue of migrant workers as though they are depriving local individuals of employment opportunities. 'They are not, and this is starving our industry of growth,' he said. Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Nivas Ragavan said the extension was a welcome move but needed better coordination. 'While digitalisation has helped the process, inconsistent enforcement and sudden changes in requirements often cause delays. 'More coordination between agencies would help,' he said. He also mentioned that there continued to be a shortage, particularly in the semi-skilled and low-skilled sectors. 'The repatriation programme may worsen this in the short term unless it is balanced with streamlined legal recruitment channels.'
The Star
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Job contracts stamping rule could hurt SMEs
PETALING JAYA: The requirement for all employment contracts to be stamped by the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) could impose significant financial and administrative burden, especially on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), say industry players. They said companies with high staff turnover would also be affected. Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai said there has been an intensified audit since the Stamp Duty Audit Framework was introduced on Jan 1 this year. Even though there is a legal provision under the Stamp Act 1949 requiring employment contracts to be stamped, it has yet to be widely practised. He said as such, with the launch of the Stamp Duty Audit Framework, there has been a noticeable increase in audit and enforcement activities across all sectors. 'The requirement under the Act applies to all categories of employment contracts, including full-time, part-time, fixed term and internship agreements. 'Therefore, this affects businesses across all industries,' he said in a statement to The Star. Stamping refers to the payment of stamp duty to LHDN to formally validate specific legal documents. According to the Stamp Act 1949, employment contracts fall under chargeable instruments listed in the First Schedule. However, agreements involving monthly wages below RM300 are exempt though this threshold is far below Malaysia's current minimum wage of RM1,700. For an employment contract, stamping involves a RM10 fee per copy and must be stamped within 30 days of signing. Failure to do so could result in a penalty of up to RM100 per document. According to LHDN, the framework seeks to ensure the audit is carried out in a fair, transparent and impartial manner, by outlining the rights and responsibilities of audit officers and duty payers. Soh said the impact of this move is more severe on companies with high employee turnover or seasonal hiring needs, as they face mounting compliance costs. 'For SMEs already managing tight margins, this can be especially difficult,' he said, adding that larger companies hiring seasonal employees and with a higher turnover rate would also suffer substantial cumulative impact. Soh said FMM has appealed to LHDN for a one-time amnesty on past instruments and the issuance of clear guidelines to help businesses transition to compliance without facing undue penalties. Malaysia HR Forum chief executive officer Arulkumar Singaraveloo also supported the call for an amnesty period. He said there should be a wider awareness campaign on the stamping requirement for employment contracts. Arulkumar also said companies with a large workforce or high employee turnover may face considerable challenges due to the volume of employment contracts that would need to be stamped. He added that it increases the administrative workload. Arulkumar urged LHDN to review its approach, suggesting that the stamping requirement be made voluntary or applied on a needs basis. 'For instance, stamped contracts are not a prerequisite in Industrial Court proceedings or most employment-related disputes. If required, companies could still have the contracts stamped prior to submission to the relevant authorities.'
United News of India
15-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Civil society organisations urge Sri Lankan govt to enact critical reforms
Colombo, May 15 (UNI) Civil society groups such as the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), together with its affiliates the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA) and the Free Media Movement (FMM), has urged the new government to heed civil society calls to bring the country forward on critical reforms. Issuing a statement, the IFJ raised concerns over the Sri Lankan government's apparent reluctance to engage with civil society, warning that the administration under newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is falling short of its promises on transparency and inclusive governance, News Wire reports. Despite repeated efforts by civil society organisations, the government has so far remained unresponsive to calls for renewed commitment to the Open Government Partnership (OGP)—a global initiative aimed at promoting transparency, empowering citizens, combating corruption and improving governance. Critics argue that this silence undermines public trust and raises questions about the administration's willingness to foster meaningful citizen participation in decision-making. Under the mandate of the OGP, members are required to create a two-year National Action Plan through a multi-stakeholder process to implement governance reforms in collaboration with civil society. Organisations such as Transparency International Sri Lanka and the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, as co-conveners of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) involved in Sri Lanka's OGP process, urged the government to recommit to the OGP or potentially be expelled from the multilateral initiative. In a statement, the groups said the continued silence underscored a broader pattern of weak consultative governance and emphasised that restoring trust in public institutions required a firm commitment to open, inclusive and participatory governance that reflects the voices and needs of the people. The current frustration from Sri Lankan civil society groups, while targeted at the new administration, is also underpinned by a long pattern of neglect by previous governments. From 2021 to 2023, successive governments failed to submit a National Action Plan under the OGP, prompting the global OGP Steering Committee to designate Sri Lanka as 'inactive' in a resolution passed on May 10, 2024. To restore its active status, Sri Lanka was due to submit a new Action Plan by May 10, 2025, but the current administration has yet to comply. The FMM said: 'The government's inaction – while retaining draconian legislation – exposes its indifference to constitutional freedoms. FMM demands immediate recommitment to OGP with civil society to repeal anti-media laws; embed press freedom in the National Action Plan and guarantee transparent policymaking. Media freedom cannot survive without institutional checks. The OGP is our last firewall against authoritarian regression.' The SLWJA said: 'We believe it's crucial to re-engage the current Sri Lankan government in a participatory governance model that includes civil society organisations. In the past, the Sri Lankan government has had positive experiences working with such civil organisations to implement 'Good Governance.' Reviving this approach could lead to more effective and accountable governance.' The IFJ said: 'Press freedom can only thrive within a functioning democracy, and the continued neglect of participatory governance and civil society engagement raises serious questions about the administration's commitment to legislative reform. It is urgent that press freedom is front and centre of such a discussion.' UNI ANV SS
The Star
09-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Cross-sector job moves approved for foreign workers
PETALING JAYA: In a move aimed at addressing Malaysia's labour demand, foreign workers in formal sectors will soon be allowed to switch employers across different sectors, a policy welcomed as practical and timely by industry stakeholders. Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said detailed guidelines would be announced soon, outlining the terms and procedures involved. 'The guidelines will include the minimum period, workers' consent and the sectors that will be involved,' he said at the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) headquarters yesterday. Currently, foreign workers can only change employers within the same sector in which they are employed. Sim said the new policy would not only help prevent the illegal hiring of foreign workers when they are transferred to a different sector but also ensure that hiring stays within the approved quota limits. The decision was made during the 13th joint committee meeting on foreign worker management, co-chaired by Sim and Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. The formal sectors refer to manufacturing, construction, agriculture, plantation and services. The announcement has been met with support from industry stakeholders. Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai said the move would help maintain operational continuity and minimise disruptions to production activities. He added that several steps should be taken to ensure smooth implementation, especially concerning levy payments, digitalisation and worker consent. 'Any levy already paid should be transferable to the new employer. Alternatively, the new employer should only pay the difference in levy if the rate differs between sectors. This ensures financial fairness and avoids placing a double burden on employers,' he said in a statement. Soh also proposed that the Immigration Department take direct management of worker transfers in order to ensure consistency, prevent abuse and expedite approvals. He noted that conducting the whole process online could also enhance transparency, reduce administrative burdens and support compliance monitoring. 'Transfers must be based on the informed consent of the worker, free from coercion and documented accordingly. A clear mechanism should exist to address grievances or disputes arising from such transfers. 'FMM suggests that the MyFutureJobs platform be leveraged as a national clearinghouse for matching surplus and demand across sectors,' Soh said, welcoming the latest policy. Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Nivas Ragavan said the move would help relieve current labour shortages in several sectors such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing and services. However, he recommended that the government provide proper notice periods to avoid exploitation and disruption. 'The policy promotes labour market flexibility and prevents wastage of skilled and semi-skilled manpower, particularly when a worker is underutilised or displaced. 'The implementation must be carefully managed to avoid exploitation, sudden attrition in critical sectors and disruptions to current employer planning,' said Nivas.
