The results of the autopsy of US financier Jeffrey Epstein, found dead in his prison cell last Saturday, confirmed on Friday, Aug. 16, that he committed suicide by hanging, raising one of the major questions raised by what became a national scandal.

After "a meticulous review of all the information, including the full results of the autopsy," the New York chief medical examiner confirmed, in a brief statement, that he had died by "suicide" of a "hanging".

"We are not satisfied with the findings" of the autopsy, Jeffrey Epstein's lawyers said quickly, in a statement quoted by US media. "The defense team has every intention of conducting its own independent and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances and cause of Mr. Epstein's death," continues the text.

>> See also: Suicide in prison, conspiracy theory, sexual assault: Epstein case update

"Serious" dysfunctions

Anonymous officials quoted by the "New York Times" said that the multimillionaire, accused of having organized a vast network of sexual exploitation of young girls, sometimes only 14 years old, apparently used his sheets to kill himself. The suicide of this 66-year-old man while he was held in Manhattan federal prison, one of the safest in the country, sparked a torrent of interrogations and conspiracy theories.

Although the authorities announced Saturday that he had apparently committed suicide, many insinuated that he was murdered to protect the many personalities and men of power he had attended, from Prince Andrew to Bill Clinton. The confirmation of a suicide is far from raising any questions about how this inmate, among the most prominent of the country, was able to kill himself.

US Justice Minister William Barr announced Saturday the opening of two investigations. He said Tuesday "serious" malfunctions in this prison deemed particularly safe. He did not detail them, but the director of the establishment was transferred and the two guards responsible for monitoring Jeffrey Epstein in the night from Friday to Saturday were suspended.

Many speculations

Prison officials quoted by the New York Times said the guards had slept for about three hours, while they were supposed to perform rounds every half hour, fueling suspicions about possible complicity within the prison. In their statement on Friday, Jeffrey Epstein's lawyers said they wanted to watch any security video footage near his cell at the time of his death.

Speculation was also fueled by the fact that Jeffrey Epstein had apparently made a suicide attempt on July 23. He was found lying on the floor of his cell, wounded, with marks on his neck. But his wounds had been minor and he had arrived at a hearing shortly afterwards.

He was then placed under special suicide watch, but until July 29 only. No official information has yet been provided as to why this monitoring was stopped so quickly.

A "victims compensation fund"

In front of the indignation of the victims, the Ministry of Justice has promised to continue the investigation into the alleged crimes and its possible accomplices, starting with his close friend Ghislaine Maxwell, accused by several alleged victims of having maintained its network of sexual slaves and participated in some sexual assaults.

Pending the progress of the investigation, the civil actions seeking redress to his heirs and his alleged accomplices multiply. After a first complaint Wednesday at the New York State court by an alleged victim already known to the media, Jennifer Araoz, another was filed in New York federal court for sexual exploitation, claiming $ 100 million in damages and interests.

Faced with the possibility of an influx of complaints, Lisa Bloom, the lawyer of the two new complainants remained anonymous, Friday called on the heirs of Jeffrey Epstein to create a "compensation fund for victims", which would review claims for compensation in a "fair and fast manner". Otherwise, warned the lawyer, "we will fight in court to get the justice our clients deserve".

With AFP