Former Marrakech Mayor’s Corruption Trial Delayed Again, Defense Seeks Key Witness

This umpteenth postponement came after a request from the defense to have the former wali (governor) of Marrakech, Abdelfattah Bjioui, summoned. The latter would, according to the accused, be the one who asked the City Council chaired by the former PJD mayor to conclude negotiated contracts as part of the preparations for the event, reports Al Ahdath Al Maghribia.

A delaying tactic according to the representatives of the public prosecutor’s office and the civil party, who rejected this request, arguing that an official correspondence calling on the town hall to complete delayed projects is not enough to be implicated in embezzlement. Pending a settlement of this disagreement between the two parties, the court has decided to postpone the trial to March 17.

To recall, the dysfunctions were noted in public contracts related to the organization of COP22 in Marrakech. Contracts were signed by mutual agreement by the two officials in violation of the laws in force.