Moroccan Judge Sentenced to 5 Years for Corruption in High-Profile Case

On Wednesday, the criminal chamber in charge of financial crimes of the Rabat Court of Appeal sentenced the judge of Beni Mellal who was to retire in a few months, and an intermediary to 5 years in prison each for corruption and blackmail, thus confirming the verdict handed down at first instance, reports the Arabic daily Al Akhbar.

The facts took place in July 2021. Aided by a "judicial broker" and municipal councilor of Beni Mellal, a magistrate, previously president of the Criminal Chamber at the Beni Mellal Court of Appeal, had blackmailed a lady whose son is on trial in a case of a crime resulting in the death of a man. According to the "deal", the mother of the defendant had to pay them 150,000 dirhams before her son’s hearing, in order to obtain an acquittal or mitigating circumstances in his favor.

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The lady denounced the magistrate and his accomplice through the toll-free number made available by the Attorney General’s Office. Following the advice of the Attorney General’s Office, the plaintiff responded favorably to the magistrate’s request from his "broker". A trap planned with the prosecutor of the king in Beni Mellal. She had set them a meeting in a rest area between Beni Mellal and Khouribga, in order to hand over the required amount. This is how the magistrate and his accomplice were arrested in the act of corruption.