The facts would have started at the beginning of the year. Ampoules of a powerful painkiller regularly disappeared from a secure cabinet in one of the departments of the Emile-Roux hospital center, in Puy-en-Velay. The damage would relate to 300 ampoules of Tramadol, a powerful painkiller containing opioids. The director of the hospital filed a complaint with the police.
Investigators focused their search on hospital employees who had access to the storage location. A 34-year-old nurse, residing in a town near Puy-en-Velay, was arrested at his workplace last Thursday. Several searches were carried out. Tramadol ampoules were found in his locker room and in his personal vehicle, but not at his home.
The 30-year-old was taken into custody. He admitted the facts during his hearing. He explained to the investigators that he had suffered from health problems in the past for which his pain had been treated with this type of opioid, which is very addictive. He has kept an addiction to these products. He was stealing Tramadol ampoules from his workplace for his personal consumption. His version of the facts was corroborated by the investigations of the investigators.
The nurse who expressed the shame he felt at having committed these acts will have to explain himself to the courts. He was summoned on October 2 before the Puy criminal court to answer for thefts by a person responsible for a public service mission.
Celine Demars
