In a landmark ruling, the Paris criminal court convicted Souleymane D., a 25-year-old former after-school activity leader, of sexually assaulting a young girl aged between 3 and 5 years old. The verdict marks the first conviction of an activity leader in the ongoing Paris périscolaire scandal, which has involved multiple allegations of sexual and physical violence against children in municipal after-school programs and leisure centers.
The facts occurred between July 2023 and October 2025 at a leisure center on rue de l’Aqueduc in Paris’s 10th arrondissement, where Souleymane D. was responsible for the child. The girl reported the assaults to her parents. At trial, the accused denied the allegations, admitting only to “tickling” the child.
JUST IN: A 25-year-old after-school activity leader has been convicted in Paris of sexually assaulting a child aged between 3 and 5.
Souleymane D. has just been sentenced 18 months in prison with a suspended sentence.
The family’s lawyer described the verdict as “a relief,”… pic.twitter.com/kh6JEM0A5C
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) July 12, 2026
The court found Souleymane D. guilty of sexual assaults on a minor. It emphasized the coherence and consistency of the child’s testimony: she provided corroborative details separately to her father and mother, with no evidence of external influence from other proceedings.
In contrast, the court described the accused’s statements as “evolving” — he initially denied knowing the child, then any physical contact, before changing his account without a convincing explanation. Photographs recovered from his phone showed prohibited physical contacts with children, and the layout of the recreation area was deemed compatible with the alleged acts.
Souleymane D. has been sentenced to 18 months in prison, fully suspended and a 30-month probation. If he complies with his sentencing stipulations, he will not serve any prison time.
He has also been banned from professional activity involving contact with minors, is required to undergo psychological care, and will also be registered on the French sex offender registry (FIJAIS).
“Look at that school behind us, that’s the school where my 3-year-old daughter was raped by several after-school care staff members,”… pic.twitter.com/unvnP8SUjM
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) March 27, 2026
Souleymane D. has ten days to appeal.
This is the first conviction since the scandal gained prominence, following two recent acquittals of other former Paris animators accused of sexual assaults on minors. Those outcomes had sparked significant outrage among parents.
The victim’s family lawyer, Me Charles Héran, described the verdict as a relief: “We are glad that this child’s voice has been heard. This is a decision that changes the previous two [acquittals] and is therefore extremely encouraging for what follows… We are very satisfied with this decision. It’s what we were expecting. We sincerely hope that he will not appeal, that he will understand this decision, and that he will follow the care that has been imposed on him.”
Parents expressed mixed but largely critical sentiments toward the broader handling of such cases.
“I’m disgusted… despite everything, the children’s word is questioned,” said one parent.
Massive scandal involves 100 different schools
The case forms part of a larger scandal involving allegations of sexual and physical violence by municipal périscolaire after-school activity leaders in Paris public schools and leisure centers. The issue gained widespread attention in late 2025 and intensified in 2026, with investigations opened in more than 100 schools across all arrondissements.
The City of Paris has suspended 132 after-school activity leaders in 2026 alone, including 52 for suspicions of sexual or sexist violence. In addition, earlier data showed dozens of suspensions in 2025 for similar reasons.
Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire’s administration has responded with a €20 million action plan, including an independent commission of inquiry, improved reporting chains, and a citizens’ convention on the périscolaire organization and school programs.
Parents and #MeTooEcole organization members have repeatedly voiced frustration that children’s consistent accounts are often not deemed sufficient without additional material evidence, leading to perceptions of impunity.
The post French child sex abuse scandal: After-school activity leader Souleymane D. convicted for sexually assaulting girl under 5 years old appeared first on Remix News.
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