Moroccan Judges and Lawyers Jailed in Landmark "Sale of Judgments" Corruption Case

The court handed down its verdict last Thursday, sentencing the judge R. H, the main defendant in the case, to three years’ imprisonment, and his colleague, the judge A. M, to two years’ imprisonment, one of which was suspended. Lawyers K. J and J. B from the Tétouan bar, as well as lawyer K. H from the El Jadida bar, were sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, while a lawyer from the Casablanca bar was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with a suspended sentence. Another lawyer, A. T, received six months with a suspended sentence, and a notary from El Jadida, T. H, received two years’ imprisonment with a suspended sentence.

The court also sentenced the businessman A. N, known as the "owner of the Lamborghini", to one year’s imprisonment. However, it acquitted the lawyer Y. D and the civil servant N. Y, and rejected the civil claims against the other defendants.

During the penultimate hearing of the trial, the debates were heated between the Tétouan judge, the main defendant, and his ex-wife, who had revealed the case in November 2023 by transmitting audio recordings to the judicial authorities. The ex-wife had claimed on that occasion that the judge was receiving bribes in exchange for manipulating judicial decisions, adding that their children, one a notary and the other a lawyer, were also involved in this fraud.

The investigation entrusted to the National Brigade of the Judicial Police, under the supervision of the Attorney General of the King near the Financial Crimes Court in Rabat, revealed the existence of a vast network of manipulation of judicial decisions, involving magistrates, lawyers, civil servants and businessmen. The defendants are being prosecuted for corruption, abuse of power, and the establishment of a criminal organization with the aim of influencing judicial decisions.