Graphic artist is on trial for ordering a live-streamed rape

A graphic artist who worked on hit animated films for Pixar and Disney went on trial in France on Tuesday for allegedly ordering the live-streamed rapes of teenage girls.

Bouhalem B., 59, has worked for the Pixar and Disney animation studios and contributed to blockbusters such as the 2004 hit “The Incredibles” and 2007’s “Ratatouille.”

The graphic artist is accused of paying women in the Philippines between 2012 and 2021 to rape and sexually assault girls, ages 5 to 10, on camera while he watched and gave instructions via livestream.

He is accused of complicity in repeated rape and sexual assaults of minors.

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 Bouhalem B. after the European Union’s law enforcement agency, Europol, sent a warning to the Philippines about suspicious money transfers.

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

Bouhalem B., who was living in the USA at the time, was arrested at San Francisco airport on October 4, 2021 and extradited to France.

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, mostly aged 5 to 10, although one is believed to be three or younger.

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

Bouhalem B. would send instructions via the site’s chat function. Most of the time, children were raped with fingers. They were sometimes forced to participate in scenes of sexual sadism.

The cost of each show varies between 50 and 100 euros ($54-108), and the total amount spent by Bouhalem B. on shows comes to just over 50,000 euros.

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

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 of the content.

The hearing will last until Thursday.

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