Morocco Fraud Ring Sentenced: ’Djinn Hammou’ Scammers Get Prison Time

The court sentenced the main defendant to three and a half years in prison, her husband and brother to two and a half years in prison each, and their accomplice to eight months in prison. The convicts can appeal this decision.

The accused were prosecuted for a large-scale scam. The case dates back to the end of March last year and had caused a stir. The main defendant and her accomplices defrauded more than 60 victims to whom they promised to double the amounts they deposited in a box inhabited by a djinn named "Hammou".

On the orders of the competent prosecutor’s office, the elements of the Royal Gendarmerie of the Tinghir brigade opened an investigation, which made it possible to apprehend two women involved in this scam.

"These dissuasive sentences confirm that the court of first instance in Tinghir will not tolerate this kind of criminal who exploits superstitions and illusions to steal people’s money," rejoices a security source quoted by Hespress. This "severe" sanction is a warning to "anyone who plans to take advantage of the weakness of others to seize their property by fraudulent means," he adds.