DR ‹ › The international scandal has reverberated all the way to Morocco. At least 89 minors are believed to have fallen victim to rape and sexual assault at the hands of Jacques Leveugle, who is currently imprisoned in the Grenoble region. The French septuagenarian has admitted to these heinous acts, which allegedly spanned nearly six decades and took place in at least nine countries across five continents. Jacques Leveugle, lacking formal teaching credentials, worked as a teacher or educator in France, Switzerland, and Germany, as well as in Niger, Algeria, and Morocco. He allegedly «traveled the world from the mid-1960s to the mid-2020s», engaging in tutoring and supervising youth. In Morocco, where he resided until his arrest in February 2024, in a small town in the central part of the country, he was known as «Monsieur Jacques» or «Oustad», according to RFI. He offered free French and English lessons, provided a library for children, and organized mountain summer camps. «Most people will tell you he was a kind person because he helped with children's education». The Frenchman was well-integrated socially, speaking Arabic and staying with multiple families, to whom he offered financial support in exchange. Despite the positive memories held by many who knew him, former students recall «strange» behaviors characterized by excessive physical closeness, as reported by RFI. The Grenoble prosecutor announced that an investigation had been launched in Morocco for alleged offenses committed between 2010 and 2022. Of the 89 documented victims, only half have been identified so far. French authorities have issued a call for witnesses via a toll-free number (0 800 20 01 42) to collect any further reports.
