Former Marrakech Mayor Acquitted in Multimillion-Dollar Public Funds Case

Larbi Belkaid and his first deputy, Younes Benslimane, were accused of having signed negotiated contracts worth 280 million dirhams without having the capacity to do so, as part of the organization of COP 22 in the ochre city in 2016. The two elected officials were prosecuted for "misappropriation of public funds under their responsibility by virtue of the nature of their function", "exercise of a regulated function without fulfilling the necessary conditions" and "misappropriation of public funds".

On Thursday, the court of first instance of Marrakech delivered its verdict, deciding not to indict the former PJD mayor of the city and to declare his innocence. According to the justice system, the accused cannot be held responsible for what was imputed to him.

However, his former deputy, Younes Benslimane (RNI) was found guilty and sentenced to one year in prison with probation and a fine of 20,000 dirhams. The court also decided to confiscate all the funds that were the subject of the transfers he received. Today a deputy in the National Assembly, the latter was at the time a member of the PJD before joining the RNI for the last legislative elections.