Moroccan Court Increases Sentences in High-Profile Child Rape Case

The Rabat Court of Appeal, in the night from Thursday to Friday, handed down heavy sentences against the three aggressors aged 25, 32 and 37 of Sanae, now 12 years old and mother of a child. The main defendant, Abdelouahed Ragragui, who had been sentenced to two years in prison on March 20 by the Rabat court of first instance, was sentenced to 20 years in prison with 60,000 dirhams in damages. His two co-defendants, initially sentenced to 18 months in prison, were sentenced to 10 years in prison and 40,000 dirhams in damages for "abduction of a minor" and "indecent assault on a minor with violence". The three defendants have 10 days to appeal.

"We are satisfied with the verdict that has done justice to the victim. That said, we did not understand why two defendants were sentenced to only 10 years each," said the victim’s lawyer, Abdelfattah Zahrach, as he left the courthouse. He does not rule out an appeal to the Court of Cassation "after consultation with the family".

The facts took place in a douar near Tifelt, where the victim resides. Three men from her neighborhood, aged 25, 32 and 37, had raped her repeatedly in the absence of her parents. As a result of this rape, she became pregnant.