Europe 1 with AFP 17:49 p.m., March 21, 2023, modified at 17:53 p.m., March 21, 2023

Indicted in particular for rape of a minor, the former CEO of the group Assu 2000, Jacques Bouthier obtained Monday his release under judicial control, accompanied by a bail of 500,000 euros. The investigating chamber of the Paris Court of Appeal on Monday confirmed the decision of the investigating magistrate.

The former CEO of the Assu 2000 group, Jacques Bouthier, indicted in particular for rape of a minor, obtained Monday his release under judicial control, accompanied by a bail of 500,000 euros, said Tuesday sources close to the case, confirming information from the Parisian. An investigating judge had ordered the release with judicial supervision of Jacques Bouthier, but the Paris prosecutor's office had appealed.

500,000 euros deposit to be paid

On Monday, the investigating chamber of the Paris Court of Appeal confirmed the decision of the investigating magistrate, detailed one of these sources. However, it increased the bail to be paid to the sum of 500,000 euros. According to the sources, a medical report requested by the defence recently concluded that the 76-year-old Jacques Bouthier's state of health had generally deteriorated and deemed it incompatible with his continued detention.

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"The question of senility arises, at least for part of the facts," a source in Jacques Bouthier's entourage told AFP in the autumn. The entrepreneur was indicted in May 2022 for human trafficking and rape of a minor. He is also charged with criminal conspiracy to commit the crime of kidnapping and forcible confinement in an organized gang, as well as possession of child pornography images.

Eight people indicted

The case began when a 22-year-old woman presented herself to Paris police officers in March 2022 and explained to them that for five years, she had been "captive" of a wealthy man who raped her, RTL had revealed. Becoming, according to him, "too old for him", the young woman would have been forced to find a "replacement" to take over. A 14-year-old girl then took her place in Jacques Bouthier's apartment.

The complainant had managed to film them together in a bed, before handing over the video to investigators. The ex-CEO is suspected of having wanted to set up a team to kidnap the young woman, recover the video and force her to leave the France. In total, at least eight people are indicted in this case.