Morocco Launches Criminal Probe into COVID-19 Outbreak at Fruit Packaging Plants

– byBladi.net · 1 min read
Morocco Launches Criminal Probe into COVID-19 Outbreak at Fruit Packaging Plants

The causes and circumstances of the spread of Covid-19 within three red fruit packaging units in Lalla Mimouna, Kénitra province, which resulted in an epidemic focus, have not yet been elucidated. At the end of the administrative investigation carried out by a joint commission, the Prosecutor of the King near the Court of Appeal of Kénitra ordered the opening of a judicial investigation.

The opening of this investigation was entrusted to the national brigade of the Royal Gendarmerie, the day after the administrative investigation, according to a statement from the prosecutor reported by the MAP.

According to the same statement, this judicial investigation aims to determine the criminal offenses that caused the coronavirus contamination of several agricultural workers, in particular negligence, failure to take the necessary measures for their protection or non-compliance with laws and regulations.

This also includes the legal and organic provisions relating to the preventive measures and barrier gestures decided by the public authorities during the state of health emergency.

The investigation also aims to determine the responsibilities in order to define the appropriate legal impact.