Moroccan Official Reassigned After Assault; Attacker Sentenced to Prison

The slapped caid has been relieved of his duties and assigned to an internal service of the Ministry of Interior, following the slap inflicted on him by a woman in front of an administrative annex. Prosecuted for insulting a public agent and violence against an on-duty official, the MRE was sentenced last Thursday to two years in prison by the court of first instance of Temara. Her husband was sentenced to one year in prison, while two other defendants received six months of firm imprisonment.

On March 19, the caid was physically assaulted by this lady after leading a campaign to clear public spaces targeting street vendors. Several goods had been seized and transported to the municipal warehouse. The aggressor is the wife of the brother of a street vendor who opposed the seizure of his goods and tried to recover them by engaging in a negotiation with the caid.

The authority agent refused to yield, which triggered a heated altercation. It was when the caid tried to prevent the woman from filming the scene with her phone that she slapped him twice. The video of the scene quickly went viral on social media. On March 21, the four defendants were presented before the Temara prosecutor’s office, which ordered their placement in pre-trial detention.