Interior Minister Slams Lawmakers for Corruption Allegations Against Officials

"All convicted thieves are in prison and there is no need to make a big deal out of imaginary stories." The Minister of the Interior reacted to the speech of certain parliamentarians who designate state officials as "all corrupt" protected throughout Morocco, reports the newspaper Assabah.

Abdelouafi Laftit took care to warn politicians in general and parliamentarians in particular against such infamy. It is necessary, he hammered, to stop showing a "false image of a Morocco where the law is lacking and where institutions are absent".

According to him, considerable efforts have been made in the fight against corruption. To support his argument, the Minister of the Interior said that the General Inspection of Territorial Administration, in coordination with the Inspectorate of Finance, carried out more than 106 financial control operations this year targeting 12 regional councils, 44 wilayas and provinces, and 19 local authorities. Moreover, 31 other missions are underway. Result: some 81 officials have been sanctioned (reprimand, made available to the justice system, dismissal, etc.)

Abdelouafi Laftit also recalled that the National Anti-Corruption Authority chaired by the Head of Government Saâdeddine El Othmani has referred 115 cases to the justice system this year.