In a viral and shocking video, a man in his car plowed into a flock of sheep guarded by a child. The act took place at Plage David, near Bouznika, on May 2. The man behind the wheel was a French national called Michel S., a pizza maker. In less than a minute, the man in question killed several sheep, before threatening the young shepherd. «Get lost, or you will be just like the sheep», he told the child.
هاد الطفل اليوم خرج مسكين باش يرعى الغنم ديال الأب ديالو و فغفلة منو دخلو الأرض هاد الفرنسي لي ناض خدم السيارة ديالو و قتل ليه الأغنام و بالتالي عدم رزق العائلة كاملة هاد الواقعة في شاطئ الصنوبر بوزنيقة (دافيد) مول هاد الفعلة فرنسي Michelle schelleو هو منخرط في نادي الصنوبر pic.twitter.com/SRAYWDlYEh
— Youness Elh ?? (@yolorabat) May 3, 2020
The video went viral on social media, with internet users calling on the authorities to intervene. «My son was looking after our flock of sheep because my shepherd had a problem and I had to transport him to Casablanca», Hassan, the father of the young boy, told Yabiladi.
«Once in Casablanca, friends sent me a video of a man killing my sheep with unprecedented barbarity», he said.
Not the first time
When he returned, the Mansouria gendarmerie, who were in charge of the area, contacted him to take his son's statements. «The French man was also heard. When I left at 2 or 2:30 am, he was still at the gendarmerie station», he told Yabiladi.
A source within the Mansouria gendarmerie confirmed to Yabiladi on Sunday that the two parties have been heard, without being able to confirm or deny whether the perpetrator of this act is still under custody or on provisional release. According to residents, the person was arrested.
هاد الطفل اليوم خرج مسكين باش يرعى الغنم ديال الأب ديالو و فغفلة منو دخلو الأرض هاد الفرنسي لي ناض خدم السيارة ديالو و قتل ليه الأغنام و بالتالي عدم رزق العائلة كاملة هاد الواقعة في شاطئ الصنوبر بوزنيقة (دافيد) مول هاد الفعلة فرنسي Michelle schelleو هو منخرط في نادي الصنوبر pic.twitter.com/SRAYWDlYEh
— Youness Elh ?? (@yolorabat) May 3, 2020
For his part, Hassan said he «completely ignored» the reasons for this act. «A friend of this French man contacted me to tell me that this person was not particularly targeting my sheep or me in particular. Apparently he had business with another shepherd and wanted to take revenge», he explained. «We have no dispute with this person. I don't know him and he doesn't know me either», he argued.
Sources close to the case, however, reported that this French national, originally from Lyon, would have committed similar acts against animals in the past. He would have, therefore, «intentionally hit and killed a dog in June 2019», the same source added.
Articles 601, 602 and 603 from the Moroccan Penal Code refer to prison sentences and a fine for similar acts against animals. Not to mention the punishments for death threats committed against a child.