More than 240 women have come forward with allegations that they were covertly drugged by a high-ranking official during job interviews with the French Ministry of Culture. The accusations, now the subject of a major criminal investigation, describe a pattern of manipulation and humiliation spanning nearly a decade.
The women allege that Christian Nègre, a senior civil servant, spiked their coffee or tea with a potent, illegal diuretic. Shortly after consuming the beverages, they experienced an overwhelming and urgent need to urinate. The official would then reportedly suggest continuing the interview outdoors on long walks, deliberately moving away from public restrooms.
Many of the women described the profound physical distress and subsequent humiliation they endured. Some were forced to relieve themselves in public, while others did not make it to a bathroom in time. The psychological impact has been severe, with several victims reporting lasting trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder, and a devastating blow to their professional confidence.
The case came to light in 2018 following an unrelated incident. A subsequent police investigation uncovered a computer file allegedly maintained by Nègre, titled “Experiments,” which meticulously documented the druggings and the women’s reactions.
Nègre was removed from his post and placed under formal investigation in 2019 on charges including drugging and sexual assault. His lawyer has declined to comment while the judicial inquiry continues. Despite the serious allegations, he has been permitted to work in the private sector while awaiting trial.
For the alleged victims, the slow pace of justice has become a source of additional anguish. Many have expressed frustration that six years after the initial investigation began, a trial date has yet to be set. They describe the protracted legal process as a form of secondary victimization, compounding their original trauma.
One woman, Sylvie Delezenne, recounted her 2015 interview, during which she was led on a lengthy walk through the Tuileries Garden after drinking a coffee. The physical effects were so intense she eventually had no choice but to urinate in a public tunnel. For years afterward, she blamed herself for the incident, which halted her career search and caused significant emotional distress.
Another complainant, Anaïs de Vos, described a similar experience in 2011, where her refusal to use a secluded area under a bridge led to a desperate and humiliating search for a restroom. A third woman, identified by the pseudonym Émilie, said the two-hour walking interview left her feeling dizzy and on the verge of fainting.
A lawyer representing several of the women stated the case is not merely about a sexual fantasy but represents a deliberate exercise of power and control over women’s bodies through humiliation. The scale of the alleged crimes is considered extraordinary.
The case has drawn comparisons to other high-profile “chemical submission” trials in France, where drugs are used to facilitate abuse. While some of the women have received compensation through a civil case, a trade union has called on the Culture Ministry to acknowledge its responsibility as an employer, pointing to a “systemic problem” that allowed the alleged behavior to continue for so long.
