Saharan Drug Lord Trial Shakes Moroccan Entertainment World

At the last hearing, the confrontation between Latifa Raâfat, the ex-wife of the Malian Ahmed Benbrahim, the main accused in the "Escobar of the desert" case, and several main accused, in particular the former MP Saïd Naciri and the businessman Abdenbi Bioui, was intense. In her testimony, the singer stated that she had never seen Ahmed Benbrahim transport plastic bags full of millions, contrary to what had been mentioned by the maid in the hearing minutes. "Until now, I remain a creditor of El Haj Ibn Brahim for an amount of 320,000 dirhams, and I have never witnessed financial transactions of such magnitude as has been circulated," she specified.

According to Latifa, Toufiq Zentar repeatedly went to her home to demand money on behalf of Ahmed Ben Brahim. According to her, Saïd Naciri crossed all limits when he "attacked (her) dignity before the Arab and Western worlds". At the stand, the latter said he was surprised by the singer’s statements. According to him, what was in the minutes of the National Brigade of the Judicial Police contradicted her statements. "Latifa Raafat’s testimony today brought the Court closer to the truth, and she did not mention any sums of money or cars, contrary to what was recorded in the minutes of the judicial police," he said.

Speaking about the financing of the artistic festival organized in the city of Zagora, Naciri assures: "The artists who took part in the festival received their fees directly from me, and I did not receive any financial support from El Haj Ibn Brahim, neither small nor large." He adds: "I was imprisoned unjustly and falsely, without flagrante delicto or tangible evidence, and this was based solely on statements and allegations that were the direct cause of the deprivation of my freedom." Called to the stand, the businessman Abdenbi Bioui appears leaning on his cane. He categorically denied any connection with the facts mentioned. "I have never met Latifa Raafat before, and everything concerning the California villa is false," he affirmed.

"I handed over the villa to El Haj Ibn Brahim for a period of four months only, until he could acquire another house where he resides with his Moroccan artist wife," Belkacem specified, appearing in tears. He assures that he had no prior knowledge of the Malian: "I do not remember personally handing him the keys to the villa, and I have never had a direct relationship with this person before." These remarks call for a new intervention by Latifa. The singer assures that her ex-husband indeed had the intention of acquiring real estate in Morocco in order to obtain Moroccan nationality. Hence the frequency of his travels and his relationships in this field.