The Primary Criminal Chamber specializing in financial crimes at the Marrakech Court of Appeal has officially concluded the preliminary phase of the case regarding the management of the wholesale market for fruits and vegetables. The court issued its rulings concerning several officials and employees who were prosecuted while free, following suspicions of misappropriation of public funds and forgery of official documents.
Notably, the court declared the public prosecution against the former mayor of Marrakech, the late Omar Jazouli, as expired due to his death. Furthermore, one of the accused, identified by the initials "M.Z.", was acquitted of all charges after the court was convinced that the alleged actions against him were not substantiated.
Conversely, the judicial body convicted five defendants, namely "M.Z.", "M.M.", "M.K.", "A.F.", and "M.M.", sentencing them to two years of imprisonment, with one year being enforceable and the other suspended, in addition to a financial penalty of 50,000 dirhams each.
The rulings also extended to the remaining defendants in the case, as the court imposed a one-year suspended prison sentence on them, along with a definitive fine of 20,000 dirhams for each defendant, and ordered them to cover the costs and minimum enforcement where applicable.
Following the announcement of the verdicts, all convicted individuals were informed of their legal right to appeal the decision within the legally stipulated time frame.
This case has attracted significant attention from the local public, given its association with the management of one of the most prominent economic facilities in Marrakech. It has raised questions regarding the governance of public funds and the adherence to the legal and administrative protocols in place within the wholesale market for fruits and vegetables.
As reported by telegraphe.ma.
