A Moroccan court sentenced seven individuals to prison terms on Wednesday for collaborating with French insurance tycoon Jacques Bouthier in a sexual abuse and trafficking case.
The sentences, handed down in the northern city of Tangier, ranged from four to ten years in prison.
An eighth defendant received a suspended six-month sentence.
All eight were charged with human trafficking, sexual harassment, and failing to report crimes.
Bouthier, 76, is currently under arrest in Paris facing similar charges of child rape and trafficking.
The Moroccan case stems from accusations brought forth by four former employees of Bouthier’s insurance firm in Tangier, alleging repeated sexual harassment and intimidation between 2018 and 2022.
The court also ordered the defendants to pay significant compensation to the victims.
Each of the six complainants will receive over $10,000 in damages.
The case represents a rare instance of victims in Morocco coming forward with sexual abuse allegations.
Social stigma often discourages victims from speaking out, but this verdict offers a measure of justice and sets a precedent for future cases.
