Moroccan Local Official Sentenced to 6 Years for Document Forgery in Taza

It all started with a complaint filed by the president of the commune of Bab Merzouka against his vice-president last year. The latter was accused of attacking the commune, looting certain documents and destroying others, reports Al Massae. But the investigation carried out by elements of the Royal Gendarmerie revealed contradictions. The president of the commune and one of his collaborators were then arrested for "false complaint" and "humiliation of the judicial authorities".

On Monday, the Court of Appeal of Taza sentenced the president of the commune to six years in prison and a fine of 100,000 dirhams. One of his collaborators and the commune’s guard received respective sentences of four years and two years in prison. Two other officials were separately sentenced to two years and three months suspended. On the other hand, another official was acquitted.

They were all involved in a case of document forgery, and were prosecuted for trying to convince individuals to make false testimonies in exchange for promises and gifts, and for misleading the judicial police by reporting a crime that had not occurred.