Morocco Arrests Nearly 5,000 for Violating COVID-19 Emergency Measures

These legal proceedings are part of the implementation by the public prosecutor’s office of the punitive provisions provided for by Decree-Law No. 2.20.292 on the provisions relating to the state of health emergency and the procedures for its declaration, specifies a press release from the Presidency of the public prosecutor’s office. Among the individuals prosecuted, 334 were referred to the courts in detention.

According to the Presidency of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, 263 other people have been prosecuted by the public prosecutor’s offices, including 43 in detention, for violation of certain provisions of the Criminal Code, since the announcement by the public authorities of the state of health emergency on March 20; which brings the total number of people prosecuted in this context to 5,098.

The courts of the kingdom have sentenced some of these prosecuted persons to custodial sentences and fines, the press release said.

In addition, the public prosecutor’s offices have opened 81 judicial investigations that have led to the prosecution of 58 people. Other investigations are ongoing, the same source said.