Unauthorized Villas Demolished Near Temara as Officials Face Consequences

The authorities have decided to demolish six villas located in the commune of El Menzah, Ain Aouda circle, built by the developer of the "Al Qods" project in Temara and belonging to senior state officials, reports the daily Assabah, specifying that the head of the Ain Aouda circle and the caïd of the commune of El Menzah have been relieved of their duties.

The real estate developer would not have obtained all the necessary authorizations, adds the same source. The latter claims to have filed a construction permit application on the electronic platform "Rokhas", which the commune rejected, considering that the file was incomplete. But the developer ignored this decision and launched the construction work of the villas, after the 60 regulatory days required after the date of filing his application.

The developer claims that he is within his rights because he did not receive a response from the commune during the 60 days following the filing of his file. The Chamber in charge of financial crimes at the Court of Appeal of Rabat was seized of the case. But pending its decision, the authorities of the commune proceeded on Friday to the demolition of 16 buildings containing 200 apartments from the "Al Qods-Extension" residential complex. 17 other buildings from the "Al Qods-1" complex should also suffer the same fate.

The decision to demolish was taken after a double inspection mission by the Court of Auditors and the General Inspection of Territorial Administration (IGAT). Several officials, including the governor of Temara, have been relieved of their duties. Searches were carried out in the offices of several community leaders by elements of the National Office for the Fight against Economic and Financial Crimes. Other officials and elected officials are being prosecuted, some in pre-trial detention.