Frenchman sentenced to 12 years in Morocco for paedophilia

A 60 year old Frenchman has been sentenced to 12 years in prison by a court in Casablanca for paedophilia, Moroccan police confirmed earlier today.

Women and children take part in a march against child abuse, Casablanca, 5 May Reuters/Stringer

 The man was originally arrested on charges of paedophilia, setting up a criminal organization and illegal residency in Morocco.

He also received a fine of 60,000 dirhams (5,500 euros) to be paid to the family of a girl whose complaint led to his arrest.

Police sources said the man had been living in Morocco for the past four years, possibly fleeing prosecution for paedophilia back in France.

Once in Morocco, he began relationships with two young women he employed as domestic workers, before asking them to help him meet ten-year old girls. The two women were also jailed for eight months for “complicity in forming a criminal organisation”.

On 5 May, thousands of people marched in Casablanca to protest against children sexually abused after a horrific assault last month in the northwestern Sidi Kacem region nearly killed a young girl.