Morocco Corruption Scandal: Lawmakers and Business Leaders Face Trial

At least 20 people are being prosecuted for corruption and abuse of power offenses in the Gharb region alone, reports the daily Assabah. Among the accused are a parliamentarian, who is also the president of the commune of Sidi Yahia du Gharb, as well as local elected officials, entrepreneurs and civil servants who have had to manage the allocation of public contracts. They are all accused of misappropriation of public funds. The hearing of the elected officials, entrepreneurs and service providers is taking place in Mechraâ Belksiri, a commune in the Gharb.

Recently, the case of Lhaj Ahmed Benbrahim alias "Escobar of the Desert," the Malian incarcerated in the El Jadida prison since 2019 and recently transferred to the Oukacha prison, has brought down several elected officials including the president of the Oriental Region, Abdenbi Bioui, a member of the political bureau of the PAM, Said Naciri, president of Wydad de Casablanca, a parliamentarian of the same party, and also president of the Prefectural Council of Casablanca, and Belkassem Mir, former PAM deputy in the first chamber.

In total, 25 individuals are appearing in this case before the Attorney General. Among them are businessmen, a fashion designer, business leaders, merchants, a notary, as well as civil service executives and high-ranking security officials. They are answering charges of international drug trafficking, money laundering, real estate dispossession, takeover of stolen vehicles, forgery and use of forgeries, etc. Following the requisition of the Attorney General, the investigating judge placed them all in pre-trial detention.