However, in late 2004, a property title emerged showing that the land had been transferred to a shell company named (Société de Développement Industriel et Commercial). The majority shareholder of SODIDEC was none other than Fouad Ali El Himma —a close childhood friend of King Mohammed VI and a powerful political figure who would later found the PAM (Authenticity and Modernity Party). The minority shareholder was a businessman from Casablanca with alleged ties to the royal cabinet.
The "Belguel" scandal, more accurately known as the Agadir pornographic scandal, remains one of the most shocking sex abuse cases to involve Moroccan and Belgian authorities at the turn of the 21st century. The pseudonym "Belguel," a portmanteau of the French words for "Belgian" and "handsome face" ( "Belge" and "belle gueule" ), became notorious as the online identity of Philippe Servaty, a Brussels-based journalist who exploited and humiliated dozens of young Moroccan women between 2002 and 2005. This article comprehensively details the full story: from the modus operandi in Agadir to the distribution of pornographic material online, the subsequent cover-up, the legal battles on two continents, and the enduring trauma suffered by the victims.
The case drew global attention to the power dynamics and economic vulnerabilities often exploited by foreign tourists or expatriates in Morocco, highlighting the systemic challenges local women face in seeking international justice.
In February 2013—nearly a decade after the initial events—a criminal court in Brussels finally delivered a verdict. Servaty was found guilty of degrading and inhumane treatment. However, the court handed down an incredibly lenient sentence: an 18-month suspended prison sentence and nominal financial restitution to the victims, ranging from €1,500 to €5,000. Defense lawyers and human rights groups criticized the ruling as a highly disproportionate punishment given the scale of the damage inflicted. Lasting Legacy in Digital and Privacy Law belguel moroccan scandal from agadir full
Moroccan authorities demanded extradition and vowed to arrest Servaty if he ever returned to Moroccan soil.
Le «Pornographe d'Agadir» toujours en activité! - L'Economiste
The case highlighted how economic vulnerabilities in tourist-heavy hubs like Agadir are weaponized by foreign nationals using deceptive promises of legal visas or financial security. However, in late 2004, a property title emerged
The Belgueul scandal had a significant impact on Agadir's tourism industry, with many visitors canceling their trips to the city. The local community was also affected, as the scandal highlighted issues of human trafficking and exploitation in the region.
The man behind the nickname "Belguel" was , a journalist working for the Brussels-based newspaper Le Soir . Between 2001 and 2005, Servaty traveled to Morocco, particularly Agadir, where he engaged in relationships with several Moroccan women. He was accused of using his position to promise these women a better future and even marriage or papers to live in Belgium, according to a report from Telquel.ma . The Scandal Unfolds: The CD-ROM of Shame
In July 2008, Belguel was sentenced to five years in prison for forgery and use of forgery. He served only 18 months before being released on "health grounds" and reportedly fled to Spain. The "Belguel" scandal, more accurately known as the
Because the adult women had technically consented to having the pictures taken (unaware they would be published), the act did not violate Belgian criminal laws at the time.
The full story of the is a labyrinthine tale that connects a modest land surveyor to the highest echelons of power, exposing vulnerabilities in Morocco’s property registration system and tarnishing the reputation of one of the country’s most prominent families.
Moroccan authorities issued an arrest warrant and requested the extradition of Servaty. The Belgian government officially refused. At the time, the creation and distribution of adult pornography involving consenting individuals did not violate Belgian domestic law. Because dual criminality was not satisfied, Servaty could not be extradited to face trial in Morocco. Backlash and Delayed Justice