Morocco Urges Lawyers to Combat Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing

The Minister of Justice, Mohamed Ben Abdelkader, indicated that "this meeting is an opportunity to strengthen coordination and consultation between his department and the financial intelligence unit and the Bar Association, in order to implement the relevant national and international legal provisions".

The minister particularly emphasized the crucial role of the lawyer in the fight against the crimes of money laundering and the financing of terrorism "to avoid the negative observations recorded in this register" especially, the declarations of doubts with the financial intelligence unit. He also reaffirmed the determination of the Ministry of Justice to fulfill its obligations and improve consultation with lawyers, in order to explain to them the modalities for implementing their roles in this matter.

The Attorney General of the King at the Court of Cassation, President of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Mohamed Abdennabaoui, for his part, indicated that the lawyer is expected to declare suspicious commercial transactions and to join the efforts of the Moroccan state to fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Thus, lawyers are invited to implement "with full responsibility" the necessary legal provisions, in order to overcome the "negative" observations of the experts of the Financial Action Task Force, stressed Mr. Abdennebaoui.