Marrakesh: Moroccan-French Billionaire Accused of Secretly Filming Foreign Tourists in Luxury Villa
The commune of Tassoultante, on the outskirts of Marrakesh, is experiencing heightened security and media alert following the eruption of a scandal involving a serious invasion of privacy, spearheaded by a Moroccan businessman with French nationality. The individual in question owns an upscale villa in the Cherifia area, which he has developed into a luxury tourism project, renting it out on Airbnb for amounts reaching 30,000 dirhams per day.
Reliable sources confirmed that the villa hosted several foreign tourists in recent days, including young men and women from the United States and Switzerland. Initially, their stay was normal; however, it quickly transformed into a shocking experience when they noticed suspicious behaviors such as searches of their personal belongings and tampering with their room contents during their absence.
These indicators raised the guests’ suspicions, prompting them to document the events on video before leaving for a city tour. Upon their return, they confirmed their fears with clear signs of privacy infringement, leading them to file an official complaint with the gendarmerie.
Subsequently, the judicial police moved to the villa and launched a thorough investigation that revealed disturbing findings. During the search, advanced electronic devices, chargers, mobile phones, and wall-mounted hidden cameras were discovered, installed in sensitive areas, especially inside bedrooms and bathrooms.
Investigations indicated that the owner had been secretly filming guests, documenting their intimate moments, including bathing and sexual activities. Additionally, it was revealed that he previously worked for a European company specializing in producing adult content, which explains the professionalism adopted in installing the cameras and recording videos.
The inquiries also uncovered a “hidden bar” on the upper floor of the villa, containing smuggled alcoholic beverages sold at prices between 2,000 and 6,000 dirhams per bottle, without any legal license.
By order of the public prosecutor, a number of hard drives and mobile phones suspected to hold hundreds of hours of recorded footage were seized. They have been sent for technical analysis to determine the nature of the recorded content and the number of potential victims.
The Swiss tourists left Morocco after being interrogated by the judicial authorities and later shared their shocking experience through official media outlets in Europe. The newspaper received a copy of the television footage documenting some of the moments when the tourists discovered the breaches inside the villa.
The case has caused widespread shock among the public, especially as it directly impacts the reputation of Moroccan tourism, a vital and sensitive sector linked to the country’s image abroad. Industry professionals have called for stricter oversight of villas prepared for daily rentals and for them to be classified within the legal framework of tourism, along with the implementation of penalties against those who violate the rights and dignity of visitors.
The second session of the accused’s trial is set to take place in the coming days amid widespread anticipation, while investigations continue to determine if there are other parties involved or aware of the activities occurring inside the villa.
