A Marrakech court sentenced Monday a luxury villa owner to five years in prison and a 500,000 dirham fine for secretly spying on his Airbnb guests.
Holding both Moroccan and French citizenship, the man turned his property into a hidden trap for tourists.
The scandal came to light thanks to an American visitor who spotted something strange: a photo frame facing the shower that wasn’t there before.
When she looked closer, she found a hidden camera and an SD card inside. Other similar frames were found in the bathrooms, secretly recording guests in private moments.
Though the villa was advertised as a high-end retreat, it operated under strict rules that should have raised alarms: a housekeeper was present daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., a security guard lived in the basement, and guests had to call the owner to enter.
The investigation revealed the owner was also involved in trafficking alcohol and turning the villa into a place for prostitution and debauchery.
Seven people, including six foreigners and one Moroccan, joined the case as victims. The American visitor’s video testimony on TikTok, seen hundreds of thousands of times, drew international attention.
In response, authorities shut down the villa and destroyed all seized pornographic material and alcohol.
The public prosecutor has appealed the sentence, calling the crimes extremely serious.
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