Eight collaborators of former French boss Jacques Bouthier were referred to a criminal court in Tangier, in particular for “human trafficking” and “sexual harassment”, lawyers for the civil parties reported on March 16.
The eight defendants – six Moroccans, including two women, and two French – are being prosecuted for “human trafficking”. humans", “Sexual harassment”, “incitement to debauchery” and “non-reporting of attempted or committed crimes”, explained the lawyer for the civil parties, Nezha Khoubiza.
Four defendants are currently detained, while the other four may appear free, said Me Karima Salama, another lawyer. “A non-suspect in the case, a Frenchman, died in a traffic accident recently,” she added, without elaborating.
Rare beliefs
The case broke out in Morocco after complaints from former employees of a Moroccan subsidiary of the giant brokerage Assu 2000 (renamed Vilavi), registered in June 2022 in Tangier. The alleged facts are products between 2018 and April 2022 in Tangier, branches of the group led at the time by Jacques Bouthier.
A total of six plaintiffs filed civil lawsuits. They witnessed systematic sexual harassment, threats and intimidation, in a climate of social insecurity. Rare confessions in Morocco, where victims of sexual abuse are often stigmatized by society.
At 76 years old, Jacques Bouthier was indicted and arrested at the end of May 2022 in Paris for human trafficking, rape and sexual assault of minors. On the other hand, it is not processed at this stage No Morocco.
(with AFP)
