More than 500 male students and staff were to give DNA samples in an unprecedented operation launched Monday to uncover who raped a 16-year-old girl in the toilets of a French school.
The operation, a first for a French school, has raised concerns over rights violations after prosecutors said anyone refusing to submit a sample would be considered a potential suspect.
The collection of samples began as students arrived for morning classes at the Fenelon-Notre Dame high school, a private Catholic school in the southwestern Atlantic port city of La Rochelle.
It was expected to take until Wednesday for the samples to be collected from 475 students, 31 teachers and 21 other staff on site at the time of the rape.
The girl was raped in a toilet at the school on September 30. The lights in the toilet had been turned off and the girl has not been able to identify her attacker.
A trace of male DNA taken from her clothing will be compared with the samples taken this week.
Individual consent will need to be given for the sample to be taken, as well as parental consent in the case of minors.
The samples will be drawn using a swab under the tongue and the results of the tests are due in several months.
Authorities said samples that do not match the DNA found on the victim will be destroyed.
"We must have the consent of both the parents and the minor," said Isabelle Pagenelle, the prosecutor of La Rochelle, "but those who say no will become potential suspects who could be taken into custody."
Prosecutors said they had decided to go ahead with the mass DNA tests after several months of investigation proved fruitless.
But some have condemned the move as a violation of civil rights.
"Refusing to give a DNA sample when not in custody is a right," prominent defence lawyer Joseph Cohen-Sabban told newspaper Le Figaro.
"It's ludicrous! They want to decide on taking someone into custody based on that person exercising their rights," he said. "Then, once in custody, it's against the law to refuse to give a DNA sample... This is a truly unacceptable abuse of process."
Many of the students said they were willing to give samples in the hopes of tracking down the rapist.
"Everyone is participating without too much trouble because we stand with the girl that was raped and want to find whoever was responsible," said 17-year-old student Lucas.
Concerned about their security, some students asked why authorities waited to move ahead with the tests.
"I don't know why it took so long, it's not normal. It's been seven months that this rapist may be in the school," said 16-year-old Margaux.
AFP
Mon Apr 14 2014
![Mass DNA tests at French school to find rapist Mass DNA tests at French school to find rapist](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-04/51397481261_295x200.jpg)
![Wajah, suara disalah guna 'scammer', Khairul Aming beri peringatan Wajah, suara disalah guna 'scammer', Khairul Aming beri peringatan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723702833_TBKhairulAming.jpg)
Wajah, suara disalah guna 'scammer', Khairul Aming beri peringatan
Khairul Aming meluahkan kebimbangan apabila pihak tidak bertanggungjawab menggunakan wajah dan suaranya untuk menjual barangan kepada golongan berusia.
MBSB Bank bekerjasama dengan INSKEN, MAIJ lancar program untuk komuniti asnaf
Program tersebut bertujuan untuk mentransformasikan kewangan sosial Islam dengan memperkasakan individu dalam komuniti asnaf melalui latihan intensif, sokongan kewangan dan bimbingan berterusan.
![Buli siber: Sophia Albarakbah kumpul bukti Buli siber: Sophia Albarakbah kumpul bukti](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723696968_SophiaAlbarakbah.jpg)
Buli siber: Sophia Albarakbah kumpul bukti
Aktres Sophia Albarakbah kini giat mengumpul bukti untuk mengheret pihak tidak bertanggungjawab termasuk pembuli siber ke muka pengadilan.
![Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723706198_TBsurirumahmaut.jpg)
Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik
Seorang wanita yang sebelum ini dilaporkan hilang ditemui meninggal dunia disyaki dibunuh dalam bilik tidur rumahnya di Indera Mahkota di sini pada petang Rabu.
![Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723294016_FaisalHalim.jpg)
Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti
Faisal Halim layak dilabel pejuang sejati apabila mampu bangkit walaupun berdepan trauma selepas menjadi mangsa simbahan asid pada Mei lalu.
![Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723705839_TBHilang.jpg)
Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah
Polis memohon bantuan orang ramai mengesan seorang remaja perempuan berusia 15 tahun yang dilaporkan hilang di Beranang, Selangor.
![Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000 Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705134_TBAhLong.jpg)
Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000
Seorang orang suruhan ah long mengaku bersalah atas pertuduhan menyimbah cat merah di rumah keluarga peminjam, Januari lalu.
![Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705177_TBMyREF.jpg)
Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf
Lebih daripada 30 asnaf bersama ahli keluarga mereka telah diraikan di Majlis Graduasi MyREF Hijrahpreneur Skills Program (MyREF HSP) di Auditorium High Impact Research, Universiti Malaya.
![Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723704577_RusdiMohdIsa.jpg)
Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol
Polis telah mengenal pasti seorang pemain bola sepak yang ditahan kerana membawa kerambit ke padang bola, sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol di sebuah pusat hiburan di ibu negara.
![Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723703465_TBperkeso.jpg)
Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan
Bernama dan Perkeso menandatangani MoU bagi memperluas perlindungan sosial kepada pengamal media sambilan (stringers) melalui Skim Keselamatan Sosial Pekerjaan Sendiri (SKSPS).
![Sampel DNA sepadan, jenazah Nur Farah Kartini diserah hari ini Sampel DNA sepadan, jenazah Nur Farah Kartini diserah hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721276188_SampelDNAsepadan.jpg)
Sampel DNA sepadan, jenazah Nur Farah Kartini diserah hari ini
Ketua Polis Selangor, Datuk Hussein Omar Khan mengesahkan jenazah Allahyarham Nur Farah Kartini Abdullah, 25, akan diserahkan kepada keluarga hari ini.
![Polis sahkan rangka milik 'Hafiz' Polis sahkan rangka milik 'Hafiz'](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720109251_HafizFauzan.jpg)
Polis sahkan rangka milik 'Hafiz'
Polis mengesahkan rangka manusia yang ditemukan di kebun durian berhampiran Kompleks Penghulu Mukim Linau, di Jalan Yong Peng, dekat sini, pada 24 Jun, milik remaja yang dilaporkan hilang pada 26 Mei.
![Dua anggota polis parah, suspek dikejar maut dalam kemalangan Dua anggota polis parah, suspek dikejar maut dalam kemalangan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720098209_kemalangan.jpg)
Dua anggota polis parah, suspek dikejar maut dalam kemalangan
Dua anggota dari Cawangan Unit Peronda (MPV) Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Muar cedera parah manakala seorang suspek maut, selepas terlibat dalam kemalangan di Jalan Benteng Parit Kongsi 4.
![Rangka manusia dijumpai di Gemas Rangka manusia dijumpai di Gemas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-08/41691223118_garisanpolispolic.jpg)
Rangka manusia dijumpai di Gemas
Satu rangka manusia dijumpai di ladang kelapa sawit Felda Sungai Kelamah, Gemas, Tampin pada 2.10 petang hari ini.
![DNA kini boleh diambil daripada pendingin hawa bagi tujuan forensik DNA kini boleh diambil daripada pendingin hawa bagi tujuan forensik](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/81712376317_TujuanForensik.jpg)
DNA kini boleh diambil daripada pendingin hawa bagi tujuan forensik
Setiap benda hidup menghembuskan DNA dalam bentuk air liur atau wap yang dikeluarkan ketika bernafas.
![Tulang dijumpai di Tongkang Pechah milik Bella - Polis Tulang dijumpai di Tongkang Pechah milik Bella - Polis](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/61709791946_TBLokasipenemuan.jpg)
Tulang dijumpai di Tongkang Pechah milik Bella - Polis
Polis mengesahkan beberapa tulang yang ditemui di kawasan rumah terbiar di Tongkang Pechah di Batu Pahat pada 28 Feb lepas milik mangsa kes pembunuhan, Bella.
![Rangka manusia sah milik Bella - Polis Rangka manusia sah milik Bella - Polis](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/41706010491_TBRANGKABELLA.jpg)
Rangka manusia sah milik Bella - Polis
Laporan mengesahkan hasil analisis DNA didapati ia sepadan dengan sampel yang diambil dari ibu dan kakak Bella yang dilaporkan hilang Disember lalu.
![Kes bunuh Zayn Rayyan: Siasatan sudah 90 peratus - KPN Kes bunuh Zayn Rayyan: Siasatan sudah 90 peratus - KPN](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/41701428445_RazarudinHusain.jpg)
Kes bunuh Zayn Rayyan: Siasatan sudah 90 peratus - KPN
Siasatan melibatkan pelbagai sudut, termasuk saintifik, forensik serta konvensional, dan selain itu polis sedang memperincikan identiti suspek.
![Polis kesan dua kanak-kanak nampak Zayn Rayyan di Blok R sebelum hilang Polis kesan dua kanak-kanak nampak Zayn Rayyan di Blok R sebelum hilang](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/51702544395_TBZaynjpg.jpg)
Polis kesan dua kanak-kanak nampak Zayn Rayyan di Blok R sebelum hilang
Polis berjaya mengesan dua kanak-kanak yang sempat melihat kelibat Allahyarham Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin di tingkat dua dan tiga di Blok R, Apartmen Idaman, Damansara Damai pada 5 Disember lalu.
![Identiti mayat hampir reput dipercayai dibunuh dikenal pasti - Polis Identiti mayat hampir reput dipercayai dibunuh dikenal pasti - Polis](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-09/41695029136_Anakhilang.jpg)
Identiti mayat hampir reput dipercayai dibunuh dikenal pasti - Polis
Identiti mayat hampir reput dipercayai dibunuh yang ditemukan berhampiran sebuah kebun kelapa sawit pada 16 Sept lepas telah dikenal pasti.