PJD Leaders in Marrakech and Tétouan Face Legal Action Over Public Funds Misuse

Tough times for the Party of Justice and Development. In the ochre city, two party officials, namely the mayor of the city and one of his deputies, are being referred to the investigating judge and would be prosecuted for having concluded at least 39 public contracts without respecting the usual procedures.

Meanwhile, the same sources relayed by La vie Éco, the administrative court of the city of Marrakech will look into the case of another local PJD official, more precisely the president of the commune of Aït-Melloul, in the Greater Agadir. The latter is the subject of dismissal proceedings initiated by the Ministry of the Interior, for mismanagement of public affairs, indicates the same media.

Furthermore, in the north, particularly in Tétouan, the PJD elected official, mayor of the city, is also the subject of legal proceedings for similar acts. Like the other party members mentioned previously, he is being prosecuted "for numerous violations and irregularities noted by the control missions of the Ministry of the Interior in the management of the city".

In this matter, articles 241 and 381 of the penal code establish the charges. The second article punishes the usurpation of functions, while according to the first, "any magistrate, any public official who embezzles, dissipates, unduly retains or removes public or private funds, securities in lieu thereof or documents, titles, acts, movable effects which were in his hands, either by virtue or by reason of his functions, is punished by imprisonment from five to twenty years and a fine of 5,000 to 100,000 dirhams".

The three PJD officials risk not only dismissal, but also losing their parliamentary seat.