Former Moroccan Ministers Face $1.5 Billion Corruption Probe Over Stadium Contracts

The two former Ministers of Youth and Sports, a former Secretary General and a Director of Equipment of the Ministry, as well as ten companies awarded the stadium construction contracts, are accused by the NGO of having squandered around 15 billion dirhams. In its complaint to the justice system, the NGO accuses these officials of "squandering public funds, influence peddling, money laundering, corruption and illicit enrichment," reports the daily Assabah.

The NGO filed this complaint after discovering the non-existence of a stadium that was to be built "with a budget of no less than 9 million dirhams". The "stadium had been ravaged by the floods," the ministry reacted following the NGO’s questioning on the subject. However, the association did not find any "technical sheet" or "study" of this stadium. The two former ministers, Mohamed Gharrass and Mohamed Ouzzine of the Popular Movement (MP), denounced the fact that their names were mentioned in the NGO’s report, while the other officials were mentioned by their job titles.

This complaint is a maneuver to "undermine the party of the popular movement which will continue to fulfill its mission of responsible and constructive opposition," said Mohamed Gharrass, announcing that the MP will also file a complaint against the association.