Jacky Jhaj, a 39-year-old British man previously convicted of sexual offenses against minors, has been arrested in France for orchestrating a mock wedding to a nine-year-old girl at Disneyland Paris. Jhaj, who is on the sex offenders register due to past convictions, was charged after police intervened in what was meant to be a staged ceremony, reportedly set to involve around 100 French extras.
The alarming incident came to light when an actor hired by Jhaj to portray the father of the bride contacted authorities, leading to his arrest. This mock wedding was not an isolated incident for Jhaj; the BBC has previously reported on his troubling history of employing hundreds of children to participate in productions where they were encouraged to act like his enthusiastic fans, sometimes without knowledge of Jhaj’s true identity.
Notably, Jhaj was captured on video while posing naked in front of a fake BBC News vehicle, igniting public outrage and leading many to question how such activities were allowed to continue. The extensive reach of Jhaj’s productions is underscored by the million views of child's videos featuring him, raising significant concerns about the systemic failures that allow a man with such a dangerous history to operate unchallenged.
In addition to the charges related to the mock wedding, Jhaj faces accusations of fraud, identity theft, and money laundering, involving the use of a counterfeit Latvian ID to book the venue. The French authorities reported that while the Ukrainian girl involved in the wedding had not been physically harmed, the nature of the event itself and the motivations behind it prompted serious scrutiny.
Critically, the situation has sparked discussions regarding child safety and exploitation in the entertainment industry. Following the BBC's exposé on Jhaj, further investigations revealed alarming financial communications that suggested extensive funding for his elaborate projects, including those centered around child performers.
As investigators continue to untangle the web of Jhaj’s operations, stakeholders are calling for a stringent review of safeguards for youth involved in such entertainment scenarios. The UK’s Metropolitan Police have acknowledged Jhaj's connection to ongoing investigations and are liaising with French authorities, emphasizing the need for cooperative measures to prevent further exploitation of children.
