Rabat Bar Association President Testifies in Major Insurance Fraud Case

The examination by the Criminal Chamber of the Rabat Court of First Instance of the case of the Rabat bar lawyer prosecuted alongside her assistant, two doctors, an ambulance driver and others, in the context of the scandal involving manipulation of insurance files related to road accidents, continues. During Monday’s hearing, the president of the Rabat Bar Association, Aziz Rouibeh, pleaded against his colleague, his representation having become a civil party in this case, reports Al Akhbar. He reproaches her for having damaged the institution of the bar and for having accused it, in the minutes of her hearing by the judicial police, of having incited dozens of clients to turn against her.

According to him, he received numerous complaints against this lawyer for delays in the payment of deposits. The clients concerned organized themselves into groups to defend their rights. A civic, legal and lawful intervention by the Bar then became necessary. Continuing his plea, the president revealed that the lawyer had allegedly received about 80 million dirhams in deposits over a period of two and a half years.

After Aziz Rouibeh’s intervention, seven defendants in this case, led by the court president, were heard. The ambulance driver claimed his innocence, denying knowledge of the origin of his apparent wealth, which does not correspond to his income. The two doctors prosecuted for issuing false medical certificates also do not recognize the facts they are accused of. They also declared themselves "innocent" of any involvement in insurance fraud. Evidence shows otherwise, however.

Last March, BNPJ elements conducted an investigation that resulted in the dismantling of a vast insurance fraud network and the arrest of several suspects. A lawyer, a legal assistant and two other individuals were incarcerated at El Arjat prison, while two doctors and a civil protection employee are being prosecuted on provisional release.