Former Moroccan Transport Minister’s Aide Faces Corruption Trial Amid Italian Investor’s Claims

At the last hearing, the defense of the civil party, an investor of Italian origin, had made a request, rejected by the Court, requesting the presence of the former Minister of Equipment and Transport, the current Minister of Energy and Mines, as well as the Head of Government, Saâdeddine El Othmani.

Before the judges, the Italian investor had made explosive revelations in connection with the two officials within the ministry. In exchange for the promise of awarding 3 major state contracts, Aziz Rebbah’s Advisor would have received two large sums, including under-the-table payments estimated at 490,000 dirhams in cash, and 800,000 dirhams by bank check, for the acquisition of an apartment.

The advisor would have received bribes estimated at more than 1.2 million dirhams, in exchange for the award of the contracts for the dual carriageway connecting Rabat and Kenitra, the sand quarry located in Jorf Sidi Kacem and the construction of a police headquarters in Salé.

While acknowledging the facts put forward by the civil party, the advisor nevertheless specified that the 800,000 dirhams received by check were only the repayment of a loan previously granted to the investor, to deal with liquidity problems in his company. Statements that the accountant and the guardian of the foreign company had confirmed to the investigating judge.

For his part, the public procurement officer at the ministry would have, according to the investor, also received the sum of 130,000 dirhams, in exchange for an air conditioning contract for the ministry. However, these allegations had been flatly rejected by the procurement officer, who had denied any relationship with him.