Morocco Drops Legal Case Against Spanish Officials in Polisario Leader Entry Dispute

Morocco’s decision to extinguish this legal action comes after Spain’s change of position on the Sahara, which sounded the end of the long and serious diplomatic crisis between the two countries. A few days ago, the judge in charge of the Ghali case, Rafael Lasala, had decided not to keep Camilo Villarino under investigation, who is no longer suspected of crimes of document concealment and embezzlement, recalls El Periódico de España.

To read: Spanish Judge Orders Investigation into Polisario Leader’s Covert Entry

This investigation was opened after lawyer Antonio Urdiales filed a complaint on behalf of a Moroccan family who would have suffered personal harm due to the diplomatic crisis between Spain and Morocco caused by Ghali’s arrival. Another complaint was filed by Mohamed Rachad Andaloussi Ouriaghli, a Moroccan businessman residing in Spain and very close to the Moroccan government. According to well-informed sources, the latter is eyeing the presidency of the Moroccan Chamber of Commerce in Spain.

To read: Former Spanish Foreign Minister Remains Under Investigation in Ghali Entry Case

Since Spain’s change of position on the Sahara, these Moroccan applicants have waived the right to appeal the judge Lasala’s decision not to prosecute Villarino, effectively extinguishing the proceedings against the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which they had accused for months of having coordinated Ghali’s "illegal" entry into Spain, while two judicial investigations were opened against the Sahrawi leader in Madrid.

According to sources close to the two accusations, they did not feel the need to appeal because they consider the case closed as soon as Judge Lasala indicated in his latest decision that the head of the Executive, Pedro Sanchez, is the real responsible for Ghali’s entry into Spain, given that several ministries participated in this joint action.