Moroccan Officials Face Trial for Embezzlement and Fraud in Fez

The former president of the commune of Sidi El Abed was sentenced to one year in prison and 200,000 dirhams in damages to be paid to the commune. The defendant is accused of having the commune pay a 5,000 dirham invoice for the repair of a typewriter and of having issued 11 fictitious purchase orders for the purchase of paint, construction materials, electrical and computer equipment, and spare parts for a total amount of 170,000 dirhams from 2003 to 2015, reports Assabah.

It was his successor and current president of the commune, as well as a local association, who filed a complaint against him, the same source adds, stating that the accused also filed a complaint against the president of the commune, accusing him of the same crimes of embezzlement, misappropriation of commune property and forgery and use of forgery.

The president of the Ahl Sidi Lahcen commune in Sefrou is the second accused. After examining his file, the judge decided to acquit him and his co-accused. The former president of the commune, currently imprisoned in Meknes, had filed a complaint against them for the same charges.
The president of the Outa Bouayane commune, the third accused, did not receive his sentence. His trial was postponed to January 31 due to the absence of his defense and his four co-accused.