French Civil Servant Accused of Drugging Hundreds of Women During Job Interviews
In a shocking case that has exposed systemic abuse within France's public sector, a former human resources director and civil servant at the country's culture ministry stands accused of drugging 248 women during job interviews between 2009 and 2018. Christian Nègre allegedly administered powerful diuretics to his victims, causing them to wet themselves during so-called "walking interviews" around Paris.
The Alleged Scheme and Its Discovery
Nègre, nicknamed "the photographer" by investigators, reportedly laced the coffee and tea of job applicants before taking them on walks through the French capital. The diuretics would take effect during these outings, leaving women in sudden, desperate need of toilets. The civil servant allegedly documented these encounters in meticulous detail on an Excel spreadsheet titled "experiments" and took secret photographs of his victims.
The scheme only came to light in 2018 when a colleague witnessed Nègre photographing a female official's legs in their office. This observation prompted police to investigate, leading them to discover extensive files containing evidence of his alleged crimes. Nègre was subsequently charged with administering harmful substances without consent.
Victims' Harrowing Accounts
Marie-Hélène Brice, one of the alleged victims, described her 2016 interview with Nègre as a moment when she believed she was "getting her life back on track." Instead, she found herself in agony during their walk, eventually being forced to urinate into a river while Nègre covered her with a jacket and maintained eye contact.
"It was a double shock," Brice told The Telegraph. "First, you think it's your fault. Then you discover you were poisoned."
Another woman, Anaïs de Vos, alleged that during a 2011 interview, Nègre suggested she relieve herself under a bridge near the Tuileries Gardens. "I thought: If I go in there, he might attack me," she recalled. She refused but ultimately had to rush to a cafe toilet near the Louvre, urinating on herself during the desperate journey.
Elise Daniaud Oudeh, who says she had to relieve herself near the Seine after meeting Nègre, expressed the psychological impact of the experience. "I thought it was my fault. I never imagined someone could put something in my drink at a ministry," she said.
Systemic Implications and Legal Delays
Louise Beriot, a lawyer representing several of the women, characterized the alleged crimes as being "about power and domination over women's bodies... through humiliation and control." The case has raised serious questions about how such extensive abuse could occur within a government ministry over nearly a decade.
Despite the serious nature of the allegations, the judicial process has faced significant delays. A probe was opened in 2019, but Nègre remains free seven years later. The alleged victims now have only one month to submit their testimonies before the inquiry is closed.
The psychological toll on victims has been severe. One woman described having nightmares and being triggered by using toilets, while another became so humiliated that she stopped applying for jobs entirely, eventually exhausting her unemployment benefits.
Aftermath and Institutional Response
After leaving the civil service, Nègre worked at a business school in Caen under a different surname until students discovered his identity, leading to his dismissal. In 2023, the French state was ordered to pay up to £14,000 to seven alleged victims in a civil case, though the culture ministry was found not to be at fault as an employer.
Nègre has not publicly apologized to the women. When first contacted about the allegations in 2019, he acknowledged administering diuretics and taking photographs but minimized both his conduct and the number of victims involved.
The case continues to highlight the vulnerabilities faced by job seekers and the potential for abuse in positions of authority within institutional settings.
