Moroccan Banker Faces Trial After $20 Million Client Embezzlement and International Manhunt

The defendant falsified clients’ signatures and made withdrawals and transfers from their accounts, managing to embezzle nearly 200 million dirhams before fleeing to Sweden, reports the daily Al Akhbar.

Wanted by the Moroccan authorities who had issued an international arrest warrant against him, in collaboration with Interpol, the banker "finally fell into the trap of the Italian police, after five years of fugitive between Sweden and Canada where his arrest was not possible," it is specified.

Extradited to Morocco, his trial begins this Tuesday at the court of first instance in Rabat. But before that, he "was subjected to questioning by the regional brigade in charge of financial crimes, who confronted him with a dozen victims," sources say, adding that the defendant will also be confronted with the audits carried out by the bank.

The case had caused a stir in 2018. Businessmen, notables, entrepreneurs and civil servants, clients of this bank agency, had discovered overnight that their accounts were in the red due to this banker who had abused their trust.