Moroccan Court Sentences Three to 37 Years for Property Fraud Against Expat

27 November 2020 – byKamal · 1 min read

Three individuals, found guilty of land spoliation through the use of forgery, identity theft and the formation of a criminal gang, were sentenced by the Safi Court of Appeal to 37 years in prison. Two years ago, they had managed to resell a plot of land in Essaouira, the property of a Moroccan living abroad.

In addition to a 15-year prison sentence, the main defendant was ordered to pay the victim compensation of 2 million dirhams. The two other defendants, a septuagenarian posing as the owner of the property and his alleged brother-in-law, were each sentenced to 12 and 10 years in prison.

The case dates back more than 2 years, reports the site Safigoud. The mafia gang had meticulously prepared their coup before defrauding the Moroccan resident abroad, who was abroad. After destroying the perimeter wall, the 3 individuals began by falsifying the personal documents of the Moroccan resident abroad in order to then proceed with the sale of the property to a notary.

The result of the operation, 1.6 million dirhams. An arrest warrant was issued against the 3 individuals, who were arrested at several months apart. They were located in Oujda, Essaouira and Ouazzane, continues the same source.

Category: Morocco

Keywords:

Essaouira Real estate spoliation in Morocco Moroccan Living Abroad