France Indicts Website Founder Linked to Shocking Rape Case

The founder of coco.fr, a controversial website accused of facilitating sexual crimes, has been indicted in France for several serious charges, including his connection to the infamous Pelicot rape case. If convicted, Isaac Steidl, 44, faces a potential prison sentence of up to ten years and a hefty fine of approximately 7.7 million dollars.Upon his release from custody, he was placed under strict judicial supervision, required to pay a bail of 100,000 euros, and prohibited from leaving France. The website, established in 2003, garnered infamy during the trial against Dominique Pelicot, who, along with 50 others, was found guilty of the systematic rape of his ex-wife, Gisèle Pelicot, while she was heavily sedated.Steidl is charged with enabling illicit transactions by an organized group through his platform, along with further allegations of drug trafficking, child pornography distribution, aggravated pimping, and money laundering. His lawyer, Julien Zanatta, asserted that Steidl denies all charges and aims to cooperate fully with authorities to prove his innocence.Testimonies shared during the trial indicated that coco.fr turned into a dangerous hub for predators, who paid a monthly fee of 5 euros for access to unmoderated private chat rooms where arrangements for sexual encounters were made. Prosecutor Laure Beccuau reported that the site was linked to over 23,000 abuse cases in France from 2021 to 2024, involving 480 alleged victims of crimes ranging from sexual abuse and prostitution to homicide.Following an extensive 18-month investigation that crossed multiple countries in Europe, the website was shut down in June, leading to the freezing of bank accounts across several nations and the seizure of around 5 million euros. The investigation also included a request to search Steidl's residence in Bulgaria, where he was living after renouncing his French citizenship last April.