A former high-ranking official at the French Ministry of Culture is facing formal judicial investigation after being accused of covertly drugging nearly 250 women with diuretics during job interviews. The allegations against Christian Nègre, who is now over 60 years old, span incidents reported between 2009 and 2018. Investigators state that after administering the substances, the official would lead the job applicants into public spaces, waiting until they lost control of their bladder function.
Former French Official Investigated Over Suspected Drugging of Nearly 250 Women
According to prosecutors, the investigation into Nègre was initiated in June 2018 after a colleague reportedly spotted him photographing a woman beneath a table. He was initially suspended from his position as a regional director of cultural affairs before being dismissed from the ministry in 2019. Prosecutors indicate that Nègre told investigators he had subjected women to humiliating situations during interviews. He currently awaits trial on charges that include the administration of substances, violation of privacy, and sexual assault, as detailed by Protothema.
Victims Describe Sudden Paralysis and Distress During Interviews
Among the victims sharing their accounts is Anaïs de Vos, who spoke about her experience dating back to July 2011. At the age of 27, she attended a job interview at the Ministry of Culture in Paris, where Nègre offered her a coffee that he had prepared himself. In accounts reported by Ethnos, she recalled that the beverage had a bad taste, leading her to drink only about half of it. Shortly after the meeting began, Nègre suggested they continue the discussion during a walk outside.
As they walked through the streets of Paris, de Vos began experiencing extreme physical weakness and an inability to feel her legs, alongside an overwhelming and uncontrollable urge to urinate. When she informed him of her urgent need for a restroom, Nègre allegedly led her toward a storage area beneath a bridge along the Seine river and suggested she relieve herself there. Terrified and panicked, she refused and attempted to find a public facility. Unable to reach a restroom in time, she lost physical control and urinated on herself. Another victim, Marie-Hélène Brice, experienced a similar ordeal following a 2016 interview with Nègre in Strasbourg, according to Athensvoice.
Discovery of the “Experiments P” File and Police Notification
For years, many of the affected women remained silent, believing their experiences were simply unfortunate or unusual job interviews. De Vos stated that she did not learn the truth until 2019, when police contacted her to inform her that she was among roughly 200 women identified as potential victims at the time. That estimated figure has since grown to approximately 250 individuals.
A critical turning point in the probe came when authorities examined Nègre’s computer and discovered a file titled “Experiments P”. As reported by Reader, the document contained detailed records tracking the targeted women, including their arrival times, the exact moment the diuretic was administered, the duration it took for the victims to experience the need to urinate, and notes regarding the types of underwear they wore.
