'Irregular' foster homes under spotlight as French child abuse court case opens

19 people have been summoned to appear in court in central France on charges of violence, undeclared work in an organised gang, taking in minors without prior declaration, administration of a harmful substance or the use of forged documents over 'illegal' foster care scandal. © AP

19 people are due to go on trial this Monday for taking in minors into their custody without authorisation – some of whom were allegedly subjected to physical and psychological abuse, humiliation and forced labor.

What has been described as an “out of the ordinary” trial gets underway in the central French town of Châteauroux this Monday regarding dozens of children who were illegally entrusted by the ASE state social care service to foster facilities – which did not have the proper authorisation – between 2010 and 2017.