Tangier’s Court of Appeals has delivered its verdict today in a high-profile case involving French businessman Jacques Bouthier, accused of running a network that exploited female employees.
The two-year investigation culminated in convictions for several individuals on charges ranging from human trafficking to witness tampering.
Sources told Hespress that the court found “L.H.” guilty and sentenced her to ten years in prison. Her husband, “H.Z.,” received a six-month suspended sentence. Six other defendants, including a foreigner, were also sentenced to four years each.
This case originated from complaints filed in 2022 by former employees of Assu 2000, a Moroccan branch of a French brokerage firm, detailing incidents that occurred between 2018 and 2022.
The women spoke of systematic sexual harassment, intimidation, and threats within the workplace.
A previous investigation by French media outlet BFM had already unearthed allegations against Bouthier, claiming he lured employees, particularly young women between 18 and 24, into sexual activity.
Significantly, Bouthier was also arrested by French authorities facing accusations of rape, kidnapping, and detaining foreign minors, including Moroccan nationals. However, the status of those charges and any potential connection to the Moroccan case remain unclear.
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