HIBAPRESS – Mohamed Zariouh
The Anti-Money Laundering Chamber of the Court of First Instance in Fez issued rulings on Wednesday in a case that occupied public opinion, where verdicts were issued against 15 members of the Auxiliary Forces, most of them from Group 37 of the Mobile Makhzen in Nador, after they were suspected of being involved in owning money and assets that exceeded their official income.
The court ruled, in the presence of the fifteenth defendant and in absentia for the rest, for one year suspended sentence with a fine of 30,000 dirhams for each of them, in addition to jointly bearing the expenses. The ruling confirmed that the facts indicate the existence of illegal financial practices, which reinforces fears of the spread of these activities in some government circles. The ruling also included an order to confiscate the seized real estate and movable property in favor of the state, as well as transferring the frozen bank accounts to the public treasury. This decision comes within the framework of strengthening the measures aimed at combating money laundering and protecting public funds. These rulings reflect the Moroccan judiciary's strictness in confronting money laundering crimes, especially in sensitive institutions such as the Auxiliary Forces, which reflects the Kingdom's commitment to seriously combating these phenomena. For its part, the judicial body affirmed that these rulings represent a strong message that the Moroccan judiciary will not be lenient in addressing corruption and financial crimes, in its continuous pursuit to enhance the integrity of institutions and ensure transparency in financial transactions.
