Former Moroccan Land Registry Official Jailed for Document Forgery

The man, who had already spent a year and a half in pre-trial detention, was accused of having falsified land titles and registration decisions. However, an expert analysis revealed that the disputed signatures were indeed those of the registrar. The defense then denounced the administration’s persecution, motivated, according to them, by personal differences between the accused and his superiors.

For its part, the land registry highlighted the "unprecedented offenses" committed by the employee on the day of his departure, a behavior deemed suspicious. However, some testimonies retracted, and others insisted on the lack of direct evidence. The accused denied any involvement in the disputed files, presenting himself as a mere executor.

Beyond this individual case, the case has highlighted the dysfunctions of the land registry service. Several employees insisted on the lack of clear procedures for file management and the transfer of responsibilities; a sometimes chaotic organization that may have facilitated the actions of the former employee.

To recall, the case had begun after a complaint from the land registrar of Tangier against "M. A.". The latter, who had resigned in March 2023, was accused of having falsified the registrar’s signature on several files. Dismissed from the civil service, he was accused of having accessed the archives service without authorization to falsify documents.