Nunavut Priest Accused of Raping Hungry Girl after Church Meal

The Sun News
November 20, 2013

http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/canada/archives/2013/11/20131120-132956.html

Rev. Eric Dejaeger

A woman testified a Nunavut priest raped her when she was eight years old after she went to the church for a meal because there was no food at home.

The woman, who cannot be identified, testified against former Roman Catholic priest Eric Dejaeger in an Iqaluit courtroom Wednesday.

She said she told her grandmother, who was caring for her, about the rape, but she didn't believe her, The Canadian Press reported.

On Tuesday, defence lawyer Malcolm Kempt cross-examined another woman who said she was taped to Dejaeger's bed. Kempt questioned the woman about the details of the alleged attack, and a $16,000 out-of-court settlement from the church, the CBC reported.

Dejaeger, 66, is accused of sexually assaulting Inuit children between about 1978 and 1989 during his time in Igloolik and Baker Lake.

He pleaded guilty Monday to eight charges of indecent assault, but another charge was added, meaning he now faces 69 charges as the case moves forward.

In 1990, the Belgium native pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual assault and was sentenced to five years in prison.

In 1995, he was to face six more charges of indecent assault and buggery, but he never showed up to court. It was later discovered Dejaeger had fled to his native Belgium, where he worked openly for the Roman Catholic Church.

In 2002, RCMP and Interpol issued an arrest warrant for Dejaeger, who is a Canadian citizen.

He has been in Canadian custody since January 2011.