French Graphic Artist Sentenced to Prison for Livestreaming Child Rape

A French court has sentenced Bouhalem Bouchiba, a 59-year-old graphic artist who worked on beloved animated films for Pixar and Disney, to 25 years in prison for heinous crimes involving the livestreamed rape of preteen girls in the Philippines.

Bouchiba was found guilty of complicity in the rape of hundreds of girls, human trafficking, and viewing child pornography online. He had confessed to the charges during his four-day trial, stating, "I am aware of everything I did. I ask the victims' forgiveness." State prosecutor Philippe Courroye described the stark contrast between Bouchiba's professional life and his dark secrets, saying, "One the one hand you have a graphic artist who delighted children... On the other, Bouhalem Bouchiba was a paedophile film maker who staged his own horror movies."

Stay informed with the latest news. Follow DXB News Network on WhatsApp Channel 

Bouchiba's crimes involved paying women in the Philippines to rape and sexually assault girls aged five to 10 in front of a camera while he watched via livestream and issued instructions. He admitted the violence resembled "torture." Each show cost between 50 and 100 euros ($54-$108), totaling over 50,000 euros.

Bouchiba's arrest was prompted by Europol's alert about suspicious money transfers to the Philippines. He was arrested at San Francisco's airport on October 4, 2021, and extradited to France. Notably, Bouchiba was previously convicted of sexually abusing his stepdaughter in 2009.

His work at Pixar and Disney included contributions to blockbusters like "The Incredibles" (2004) and "Ratatouille" (2007), a stark contrast to his hidden life of exploiting and harming children.