HIBAPRESS – Fez
The First Instance Criminal Chamber of the Court of Appeal in Fez decided today, Monday, January 12th, to postpone the consideration of the trial file of a psychiatrist known in the city, along with a relative of his and a well-known photographer, in addition to other defendants, against the backdrop of suspicion of their involvement in sexual assaults against female psychiatric patients, who are suspected of having their health and vulnerability exploited.
Informed sources reported that the judging panel, headed by Professor Mohamed Ben Maachou, decided to postpone the file until January 26th, in order to summon three declarants who failed to attend despite receiving the legal summons, in addition to appointing a translator for the benefit of a riad owner holding Belgian nationality. The chapters of this case began after the psychiatrist was referred to the First Instance Criminal Chamber by the investigating judge, following his arrest by elements of the Regional Judicial Police Brigade in Fez, within the framework of a thorough judicial investigation supervised by the competent Public Prosecution. According to preliminary investigation data, the doctor in question, in coordination with a relative of his, is suspected of being involved in the sexual exploitation of female psychiatric patients inside his private clinic, where they were undergoing treatment for psychological and mental disorders, in addition to cases related to addiction treatment, benefiting from his professional status and the trust and therapeutic relationship it imposes. The same data also indicate the involvement of a photographer in some of the alleged actions, pending the outcome of the trial and the final word of the judiciary. Human rights circles and local public opinion are following this case with great interest, given its seriousness and sensitivity, especially as it relates to patients in a vulnerable situation, and to a profession that is supposed to adhere to the highest degrees of ethics and responsibility.
