Catholic Church in Tangier Faces Fraud Lawsuit Over School Construction Deal

The dispute concerns the lack of agreement between the Catholic Church and the private company regarding a project to create a private school near this religious organization located in the heart of the administrative district of Tangier. The company had signed on December 7, 2022 a contract with the church administration for the creation of a school on a plot of land of 1,000 square meters belonging to the religious organization. This project had taken off the same month. A similar contract had then been signed for the rental of an office belonging to the church to be used as an administrative and legal headquarters for the company concerned. Along the way, the company encountered delays in obtaining authorizations. This situation had a negative impact on the progress of the project, which was nevertheless ready to welcome students for the next school year. Contrary to expectations, the church administration refused to honor its contractual commitments and refrained from issuing the necessary permits for the operation of the school, it is reported. It expressed its intention to no longer pursue the project and offered the company two solutions: the demolition of the building or its sale at a symbolic price. These two solutions did not receive the company’s consent. It then brought the case to court.

The location of the school project is not compatible with the issuance of the authorization for this company, in a context of mystery surrounding the way in which it obtained it, certain sources affirm, specifying that the site is located in an exclusive administrative environment. Another major disadvantage: building a private school in this location could further distort the administrative district of Tangier, in particular due to the lack of parking spaces and secure areas for students and their families. The French school located nearby is already a source of overload for the area, so it is necessary to find another location for the establishment, rather than in the city center.