Four Moroccan women accuse French tycoon of harassment

Four Moroccanwomenpressed charges againstFrenchinsurancetycoonJacques Bouthier on May 21.He iscurrently under arrest in Paris on charges of raping a minor, a rights group said on Friday.

The four alleged victims areaged from 26 to 28 and had been employed by Bouthier's firm.

Bouthier, 75 and one of France's richest men, is ex-CEO of insurance group Assu2000, later renamed Vilavi.

Karima Salama, a lawyer from theMoroccanAssociation for the Rights of Victims (AMDV) said that "the women have accused Jacques Bouthierof various acts of people trafficking, sexualharassmentand verbal and moral violence,between 2018 and this year".

"An enquiry has been opened and we have faith in the justice system", she added.

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One of the victims said,"He asked to sleep with me and when I said no, he asked me to introduce him to a sister, a female cousin or a friend, saying he would give me a nice present in exchange".

According to an AFP report, three of thealleged victims told journalists on Friday about their experiences, using sanitary masks and dark glasses to hide their identities and that theyhad been sacked after refusing to "give in toharassmentand blackmail" over their employment by Bouthier and otherFrenchandMoroccanexecutives.

They further mentioned that with repeated sexual harassment, they also were given threats about being thrown out of the job and expressed concerns that finding work is verydifficultin the city, hence they couldn't speak up earlier.

One even said that Bouthier had presented them to men working at the firm, telling them, "If you bring in contracts, there will be beautifulMoroccangirls".

Bouthier was arrested by Paris prosecutors after an investigation regarding the accusationsof people trafficking and the rape of a minor.He is also being prosecuted for other charges against him.

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