Former French Politician Jailed for Drugging Colleague
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A French court has convicted former senator Joel Guerriau of drugging a fellow politician. He was sentenced to four years in prison, with 18 months to be served in jail.
The incident occurred in 2017. Guerriau, then a senator, secretly added a powerful drug to the drink of Member of Parliament (MP) Valérie Boyer. The substance was ecstasy, a stimulant also known as MDMA.
Boyer, who was a friend, became seriously ill but survived. Guerriau claimed he intended only to "liven up" the evening, not to enable a sexual assault. The court rejected this argument, finding him guilty of administering a harmful substance.
The judge stated the act betrayed a deep breach of trust. Guerriau's lawyer says he will appeal the verdict. The sentence includes a five-year ban on holding public office.
Both Guerriau and Boyer were members of the center-right Les Républicains party at the time. Guerriau was removed from the party following the allegations.