Rabat – After over four months of proceedings, the Criminal Chamber of First Instance at the Tangier Court of Appeal sentenced Moroccan TikTok star Younes, known as “Moulinex,” and the mother of minor Adam Benchkroun to six years in prison for child exploitation.
The ruling, issued in the early hours of Wednesday, imposed a fine of MAD 1 million ($ 96,000) on each defendant. Both were convicted on charges of human trafficking and the exploitation of a minor.
The case dates back to November, when Tangier police placed Moulinex in pre-trial detention over alleged human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and distributing prohibited content involving a minor.
Transferred to Tangier, he faced multiple charges, including alleged incitement to debauchery, public indecency, and publishing content violating privacy.
Investigations indicated that Moulinex reportedly exchanged messages with the minor and actively participated in TikTok live sessions with him.
During the trial, Benchkroun testified that he had been exploited while underage. He accused several individuals in Morocco and Turkey, explaining that he was exploited in exchange for substantial sums of money sent to his mother, one of the defendants.
Benchkroun said that he met Moulinex on multiple occasions in nightclubs in Tangier and Marrakech over the years and was allegedly lured into sexual encounters with Gulf nationals in various locations and villas, with some encounters reportedly recorded on video.
Meanwhile, the mother of the minor acknowledged responsibility for what happened to her son but denied some of the other charges leveled against her.
Benchkroun and his mother had appeared before an investigating judge in Tangier. The minor faced misdemeanor charges before the court of first instance, while his mother was prosecuted in the criminal chamber.
The verdict has reignited national debate on the protection of minors online and the responsibilities of content creators and guardians, marking a significant development in one of Morocco’s most high-profile trials in recent months.
