Moroccan Official Detained on Rape Allegations, Trial Set for March

13 February 2020 – bySylvanus@Bladi · 1 min read

Accused of raping a Franco-Polish journalist, digital advisor Ali Bedar, a member of the cabinet of the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Aziz Akhannouch, was placed in pre-trial detention on Wednesday, February 12, 2020. This is the decision of an investigating judge in Casablanca.

Things are getting complicated for Ali Bedar. A Casablanca investigating judge ordered the pre-trial detention of this digital advisor close to the leader of the National Rally of Independents (RNI, liberal). His trial will open on March 3.

Last Monday, the investigators heard the defendant and then placed him in custody for rape and sexual assault on a young Franco-Polish journalist.

In her complaint filed with the Casablanca prosecutor’s office, the victim claims to have been assaulted and raped by Ali Bedar in September 2019 at her home. Defending himself, the defendant posted a message on social media. In this message, the alleged rapist claims to have a relationship with the journalist. However, he flatly denies the rape thesis.

Category: France

Keywords:

France Casablanca Rights and Justice Aziz Akhannouch Violence and assaults Custody Complaint Ali Bedar