Morocco: up to 100,000 dirhams for contracts in Europe

The case dates back to last October, when the police services put an end to the activities of this alleged network. The main defendant, a woman of Algerian origin identified as "Halima", faced her judges, accompanied in the dock by her Moroccan accomplice. The duo is being prosecuted for fraud and forgery, accused of having exploited the social distress of nearly 50 people mainly from underprivileged localities in the province, such as Oued Amlil and the working-class neighborhoods of Taza.

The modus operandi was well-rehearsed: the defendants dangled the prospect of obtaining legal work contracts for France in exchange for sums that could reach 100,000 dirhams per person. To trigger the fictitious procedure, the victims had to pay a substantial down payment of 40,000 dirhams.

During Monday’s hearing, the lawyers for the civil parties requested a postponement, in order to finalize the compensation claims for their defrauded clients. The investigation, the result of a collaboration between the judicial police of Taza and that of Oujda, had led to the seizure of 49 passports belonging to third parties, as well as various documents, cash and computer equipment allegedly used to lend credibility to this vast fraud.