Marrakech Mayor and Deputy to Face Trial for Alleged Public Fund Misuse

The visit of the head of government (PJD as well), Saâdeddine El Othmani, and the Minister of State in charge of Human Rights, Mustapha Ramid, to the two accused last week, will have served no purpose, given the complexity of the case, notes Al Massae.

The two municipal authorities are accused of having diverted public funds and signed negotiated contracts without having the capacity to do so, thus violating the provisions of Articles 381 and 241 of the Penal Code. According to sources close to the case, the accused had awarded dubious public contracts worth 280 million dirhams as part of the organization of the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP 22) in Marrakech.

Following the outbreak of this case, Larbi Belcaid and his deputy were referred to the investigating judge by the public prosecutor’s office near the court in charge of financial crimes, on Monday, January 27. 70 entrepreneurs and officials at the municipal council are also being prosecuted in this case.