French Ex-Teacher Charged With Abuse of Dozens of Minors Across Nine Countries, Including India

French authorities have charged a 79-year-old former teacher with the aggravated rape and sexual assault of at least 89 minors in a case that spans more than five decades and multiple continents. The accused, Jacques Leveugle, is alleged to have committed the crimes across nine countries, including India, making the investigation one of the most extensive child abuse cases pursued by French prosecutors.
According to investigators, the alleged offences took place between 1967 and 2022. During this period, Leveugle reportedly used his professional roles as a freelance educator, private tutor and instructor in outdoor activities to gain access to teenage boys, most of them aged between 13 and 17. Authorities believe the abuse occurred not only in France but also in countries across Europe, Africa and Asia, as well as in French overseas territories. The case came to light after a family member discovered digital storage devices belonging to Leveugle. These devices reportedly contained a detailed, multi-volume digital memoir in which the accused described encounters with minors in different parts of the world. Prosecutors say the material helped them identify dozens of alleged victims, although many are listed only by first names or nicknames, complicating efforts to trace them.
Leveugle was formally placed under investigation in early 2024 and has been held in pre-trial detention since 2025. The Grenoble prosecutor’s office took the unusual step of publicly naming the suspect, saying it was necessary to encourage potential victims or witnesses to come forward. Officials described the move as essential given the scale of the alleged crimes and the likelihood that many victims may still be unaware that others were affected in similar ways.
Investigators have so far questioned around 150 individuals as part of the probe, though only a limited number have formally joined the case as civil plaintiffs. Authorities have acknowledged that the passage of time, combined with the international nature of the allegations, poses significant legal and logistical challenges. Statutes of limitation in certain jurisdictions may also limit the scope of prosecutions. Adding to the gravity of the case, Leveugle has reportedly made statements confessing to the suffocation deaths of close family members decades ago. These claims have triggered a separate investigation into possible homicide, further expanding the legal scrutiny surrounding him.
French officials have described the inquiry as a race against time, given the suspect’s age and the need to secure testimony while memories and evidence remain accessible. Dedicated channels have been opened for anyone who believes they may have been affected to contact investigators confidentially.