The spouse of LFI MP Ersilia Soudais, placed in police custody after she filed a rape complaint, was released this Wednesday March 6. Damien Cassé firmly contests the alleged facts, according to his lawyer.
Damien Cassé, accused of rape by LFI MP Ersilia Soudais, was released following a single custody hearing this Wednesday morning.
The France Insoumise activist and municipal councilor in Noisiel firmly contested the alleged facts. He is not, at this time, indicted or placed under judicial supervision.
“We welcome this rapid release which demonstrates great respect for the fundamental principle of the presumption of innocence. Mr. CASSE regrets the public nature of this procedure and reserves the right to take legal action against all those who undermine his presumption of innocence,” specifies the press release from his lawyer, Me Yassine Bouzrou.
Damien Cassé excluded from LFI as a precautionary measure
Damien Cassé, companion of LFI MP Ersilia Soudais, was placed in police custody in Dammarie-les-Lys on Tuesday March 5, after the filing of a complaint for rape, a few days earlier, on the night of February 29 at March 1, in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, by the 36-year-old elected official.
The public prosecutor of Meaux confirmed this Wednesday morning the opening of a preliminary investigation for “rape by spouse, moral harassment, malicious telephone calls and psychological violence”
Damien Cassé was also excluded as a precautionary measure by the rebel party, of which he was also a member. Ersilia Soudais, elected representative for the 7th constituency of Seine-et-Marne, contacted the LFI authorities on Tuesday to request the exclusion of her companion and will soon be heard by the sexual and gender-based violence unit. The internal procedure is underway and should last a few days before the final decision.
LFI denounces the leak of the complaint to the media
In a press release, La France Insoumise denounces the media coverage of this affair without the consent of the victim. “The Parisian makes public a complaint for sexual violence and throws the victim out to pasture without her consent,” writes Mathilde Panot, president of the group at the National Assembly, on X (Twitter).
Me Jade Dousselin, counsel for the 35-year-old parliamentarian, welcomes “the great speed of justice in this case, which demonstrates, if necessary, that it took the full measure of the seriousness of the facts denounced.
“We now hope that all the light will be shed in calm and respect for the secrecy of the investigation,” added the lawyer.