Shocking: French Tutor in Morocco Abused 89 Children Over Decades

French prosecutors’ case against Jacques Leveugle has exposed a pattern of alleged abuse spanning more than five decades, unsettling communities in Morocco and Algeria while raising broader questions about cross-border child protection.

A Reputation Upended

In Khenifra, Leveugle was widely known as a discreet French tutor who offered free language lessons, opened a small children’s library, and funded local initiatives. Residents described a man who spoke fluent Arabic and Tachelhit and integrated into the conservative Lassiri neighborhood after relocating there in the early 2000s.

That image fractured after French prosecutors announced that the 79-year-old was under formal investigation, accused of raping and sexually assaulting 89 boys aged 13 to 17.

Authorities said the allegations surfaced following the discovery of a 15-volume digital memoir stored on a USB drive by a relative, a detail that underscores how digital evidence has become central to historic abuse investigations.

Prosecutors indicated that some of the suspected offenses in Morocco date back to at least 1974.

Cross-Border Allegations

French investigators allege that many abuses occurred in North Africa. In Morocco, Leveugle is suspected of abusing more than a dozen boys prior to his 2024 arrest.

In Algeria, where he worked as a foreign language teacher for eight years during the 1960s and 1970s, authorities suspect at least two cases.

The Grenoble prosecutor told AP that investigators are expected to travel to Morocco to collect evidence.

Moroccan authorities have not publicly commented on the probe. Legal coordination between France and Morocco is likely to hinge on mutual assistance mechanisms, evidentiary standards, and victim testimony gathered across jurisdictions.

Community Impact And Cultural Dimensions

The revelations have reverberated through Khenifra. Neighbors expressed shock and a sense of social rupture, particularly given Leveugle’s frequent engagement with teenage boys aged roughly 13 to 15. Residents recalled outings to Agelmam Azegza, a regional lake, and behavior that some now interpret through a different lens.

Advocates say the case highlights vulnerabilities common in tightly knit communities. Najat Anwar of the Moroccan child protection association Don’t Touch my Child said perpetrators often cultivate trust through education or social initiatives, especially where abuse remains underreported. She described the case as one of “exceptional seriousness.”

Detection Delays And Investigative Challenges

The investigation illustrates the difficulty of uncovering abuse alleged to have occurred over 50 years. Prosecutors identified 89 victims after reviewing the memoir, but said additional victims are possible. International appeals for witnesses have been issued.

Such cases typically confront investigators with faded memories, deceased witnesses, and fragmented records.

Yet digital archives, cross-referenced travel histories, and survivor testimony increasingly enable authorities to reconstruct timelines and patterns once considered beyond reach.