فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
The Appeals Criminal Chamber responsible for financial crimes at the Fez Court of Appeal is set to begin the trial of defendants accused of serious manipulations in the “Awrach” social program tomorrow, Wednesday, July 31st. This session marks the first of its kind before the Appeals Criminal Chamber, presided over by Counselor Mohammed Ben Maacho, following the conviction and sentencing of the defendants to enforceable imprisonment during the initial trial phase.
The Court of First Instance had previously issued verdicts on April 16th, sentencing the defendants to prison terms and fines for charges including embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds, as well as complicity in these crimes. Two defendants were sentenced to two years in prison and a fine of 20,000 dirhams each, while three others received one-year sentences, with six months enforceable, and fines of 10,000 dirhams each.
The case details trace back to the dismantling of a criminal network by the Regional Judicial Police Brigade in Fez, involved in manipulating the “Awrach” program. Investigations revealed that the network’s leader forced program workers to hand over their bank cards, enabling him to seize a significant portion of their monthly salaries.
The defendants confessed to withdrawing workers’ salaries and giving them meager amounts not exceeding 900 dirhams per month. It was disclosed that the network collected approximately 37,000 dirhams in a single month from workers registered with two associations linked to the program.
This case highlights the importance of strict oversight of social programs and the need to protect the rights of beneficiary workers. The upcoming trial is expected to draw significant attention due to the sensitivity of the case and its impact on social programs in Morocco.
The trial sheds light on the challenges facing the implementation of social welfare programs and underscores the need for robust mechanisms to prevent fraud and ensure that benefits reach their intended recipients.
