The former modeling agent and photographer is suspected of having raped around fifteen young women between 2009 and 2014. Some of them were minors at the time of the events. His trial for rape and sexual assault opened this Monday before the Paris departmental criminal court.
Johan Mapaga, 43, appears free. He presented himself as a “discoverer” of models and promised young women, new to the fashion world, “a national and international career”. “Aggravating circumstances” for the prosecution, the facts were committed “by a person abusing the authority conferred on him by his position”.
Establishing a “relationship of trust”
Of Gabonese origin, the accused, who disputes the facts, faces twenty years of criminal imprisonment. The case came to light in January 2016 after the complaint of six young women. During the investigation, the complainants described a similar modus operandi. The accused approached them in the street or in a public place, saying that his attention had been attracted by their appearance. He suggested that they become models, saying that he would train them in this profession.
From the outset, he met the parents of each young girl for a presentation of his work and, according to the prosecution, sought to establish “a relationship of trust”. The young girls quickly found themselves “under his influence”, some even ending up going to live with him.
“Control and domination”
The complainants all spoke during the investigation of “moral harassment” and “demeaning and humiliating remarks” against them, in a context of increasing isolation and severance of ties with their family. All insisted on “the relationship of control and domination” to which they were subject.
Arrested in June 2016, Johan Mapaga spent four years in pre-trial detention before being placed under judicial supervision. “My clients are waiting for a conviction that will allow them to rebuild their lives,” said Me Méhana Mouhou, who defends six of the young women who are civil parties. The trial is scheduled until December 22.