The Paris prosecutor’s office has called for French businessman Jacques Bouthier to stand trial on charges including rape and human trafficking involving a Moroccan woman who was a minor when she was allegedly exploited and forced into prostitution, French media reported.
Citing an AFP report, RTL said prosecutors made the request in mid-August, asking an investigating judge to refer Bouthier, the founder and former CEO of Assu 2000, now known as Vilavi, and four other suspects to a departmental criminal court.
Bouthier, once among France’s 500 wealthiest people, was placed under investigation and jailed in May 2022 after a Moroccan woman, identified in French media as Aicha, reported him to authorities. She had arrived in France at age 16, dropped out of school and become socially isolated, according to reports.
Investigators allege that Bouthier exploited Aicha for several years, housing her in one of his apartments and telling her he could help her obtain legal residency documents. He allegedly gave her money in exchange for sex and forced her into prostitution.
Bouthier has denied the rape and human trafficking allegations. He has acknowledged exploiting the vulnerability of young women in difficult circumstances whom he housed in exchange for sexual relations.
Ouest-France reported that Bouthier was later released under judicial supervision for medical reasons.
Several witnesses told investigators that Bouthier was attracted to young North African women and had established a system in which he provided housing in exchange for sexual relations, according to French media reports.
Prosecutors are also seeking to have Bouthier tried for criminal conspiracy, alleging that he used his wealth and influence to keep Aicha in one of his apartments and force her into prostitution.
The case came to light after Bouthier allegedly asked Aicha to find him a younger girl. She subsequently introduced him to a 14-year-old teenager, according to Ouest-France.
The outlet reported that Bouthier offered the girl €200 for a “quiet cuddle.” Aicha allegedly filmed the encounter before fleeing with Bouthier’s clothes and documents and reporting him to police.
The case also has links to Morocco. In 2024, Tangier’s Court of Appeals convicted eight people in a separate case involving Bouthier, who was accused of running a network that exploited female employees at Assu 2000’s Moroccan branch.
The women described what they said was systematic sexual harassment, intimidation and threats in the workplace.
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