Former Disney graphic artist faces trial in France over livestreamed child rape

He is also accused of repeatedly engaging in the trafficking of minors, possessing images of child pornography, and regularly visiting websites containing child pornography.

Police became interested in Bouchiba when Europol, the European Union’s law enforcement agency, issued a warning about suspicious money transfers to the Philippines.

During a broader investigation into the livestreaming of child sexual abuse paid for by Western customers, it was discovered that the streams and abuse often took place in southern hemisphere countries.

“This case takes the judiciary to a new dimension” because it “raises unprecedented questions about the operation of law and the human soul,” said Romain Ruiz, one of Bouchiba’s lawyers.

“It is the discretion of this court to agree to request these things.”

Bouchiba, who was living in the United States at the time, was arrested at San Francisco airport on October 4, 2021 and extradited to France.

Previously convicted of sexual abuse

Investigators said that during questioning, he admitted to being a consumer of webcam-filmed sex shows featuring Filipino women and to visiting child porn sites.

He also told investigators that he first contacted women using legal adult-only sex sites.

But he would later shift the conversation to secure messaging sites, where he would offer to pay for acts of sexual violence against children, the majority of whom were between the ages of 5 and 10, but one was believed to be 3 or younger.

He said half the women refused to continue talking, while the others agreed and negotiated terms.

Bouchiba would send instructions through the site’s chat function. Often children were exposed to digital violence, sometimes forced to participate in scenes of sexual sadism.

The cost of each show ranged from 50 to 100 euros ($54-$108), with the total amount Bouchiba spent on performances coming to just over 50,000 euros.

The defendant himself said that he was in contact with 24 women and paid approximately 10 thousand euros for 200 sessions.

Seven associations, including French anti-child prostitution NGO ACPE, are plaintiffs in the case.

It was stated that the suspect was already known to the police and was convicted of sexually abusing his stepdaughter in 2009.

He admitted to viewing child pornography on his smartphone but denies downloading any content.

The trial continues.