Moroccan Real Estate Tycoon Skips Court Hearing in Property Destruction Case

Summoned to appear before the Criminal Chamber of the Court of First Instance in Casablanca on September 14, 2021, the CEO of the Addoha group, Anas Sefrioui and the members of his family Saad Sefrioui, Kenza Sefrioui and Malik Sefrioui were conspicuous by their absence, reports the Arabic-language website Al oâmk. Following the deemed abusive and unauthorized destruction on March 29, 2021 of its administrative and commercial premises in Bouskoura, EPC Maroc had filed a direct summons before the criminal court against them on June 8.

The charges against them are: expropriation of property by an organized gang using violence, threats and carrying weapons, destruction of all material elements of a business, fraud and theft, etc. EPC Maroc is claiming a provisional indemnity as compensation for the damages suffered of ten million dirhams pending the finalization of the expert assessment and evaluation work. The initial partial estimate amounts to 67 million dirhams, only for material losses and thefts.

In a press release, the CEO of the Addoha group had reacted to the complaint filed against him and certain members of his family. "Contrary to the allegations of EPC Maroc, the demolition by the company was carried out in compliance with the legal and regulatory procedures in force and in the presence of the competent authorities. [...] The demolition carried out on March 29, 2021 was carried out in the presence of the competent authorities who found, contrary to what EPC Maroc claims, that the premises were empty and that there were no movable property, no people, no industrial or administrative facilities. A bailiff took note of this," assured Anas Sefrioui.