Founded in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the Saint-Cyr military academy has been the breeding ground for France’s officer class ever since. This week, however, the French equivalent of Sandhurst has had to face unwanted scrutiny during a trial into the death of a cadet during an annual initiation rite, reports The Times.
The hearing has underlined what a former army officer familiar with the institution told The Times were practices that can lead to bullying as well as racism and misogyny.
Jallal Hami, 24, drowned in 2012 as he tried to swim across a lake at the academy base at Coëtquidan in Brittany during a rite laid on for first-year cadets by their second-year counterparts.
Criminal investigations are often lengthy in France but the one into Mr Hami’s death was particularly so — an indication of its sensitive nature.
The case finally came before Rennes criminal court this week, where seven serving and former officers went on trial on manslaughter charges. Some defendants, including a brigadier general, were in senior posts at the academy at the time. They were accused of failing to exercise proper supervision of the night-time ritual during which Hami died. Others were second-year cadets charged in connection with their role in organising the event. The court will give its verdict in January.
In October 2012 Hami had been taking part in what is called the “transmission of traditions”, a month of nocturnal rituals organised by second-year cadets that involve sleepless nights, gruelling physical exercises and often alcoholic get-togethers designed to bond new arrivals to an institution that glorifies Napoleon and stages an annual re-enactment of his victory over the Russians and the Austrians in 1805.
Read more of this report from The Times (subscription required).