فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
In a dramatic turn of events regarding one of the most prominent financial corruption cases in modern Moroccan history, security authorities announced on Friday evening the arrest of Mohamed Nkil, the President of the Sidi Youssef Ben Ali district in Marrakech and a member of the Authenticity and Modernity Party. His arrest was part of a large-scale security operation that also targeted former municipal councilors and contractors, following the execution of final judicial rulings issued by the Court of Cassation in December 2024. The court had rejected the defendants’ appeals in the “Casino Saâdi” case, a scandal that has shaken public opinion since its emergence 24 years ago.
The arrests, spanning from El Jadida to Marrakech, were anticipated by many, but their timing has raised questions about the Moroccan judiciary’s message amid growing public demands for accountability. While Mohamed Nkil was handed over to security authorities in Marrakech after his arrest in the Sidi Bouzid area, former municipal councilor Lahcen Amroudou was arrested at his home in Marrakech. Meanwhile, security forces continue to pursue Abdelrahman Larabi, a prominent figure in the Moroccan Labor Union, highlighting the extent of corruption across various political and social circles.
The case dates back to 2001 when the historic “Casino Saâdi” in Marrakech was transferred in a highly controversial deal. Investigations by the public prosecution later revealed the involvement of local officials and contractors in falsifying ownership documents and misappropriating public funds worth millions of dollars. In 2020, Abdelatif Abadouh, the former president of the Gueliz-Menara Municipality and a leading figure in the Istiqlal Party, was sentenced to five years in prison and fined 50,000 dirhams, while seven municipal councilors received similar sentences of up to three years in prison.
What stands out in the latest developments is the enforcement of rulings against figures from both ruling parties—the Istiqlal Party and the Authenticity and Modernity Party. Judicial sources told Fes News that this move is a “message to power circles that the era of impunity is over.” Mohamed Nkil, who oversaw one of Marrakech’s largest urban districts, is now being held in cell number 34 at Oudaya Prison. Meanwhile, former municipal councilor Omar Ait Ayan has been transferred to the same prison, which previously housed his party colleague Abdelatif Abadouh before his temporary release in 2022.
On another front, the case raises questions about the fate of the “Casino Saâdi” lands, which were seized by the state and are now valued at over 15 billion dirhams. Reports indicate that the government may put them up for investment again. However, experts warn of the potential for another corruption scandal, especially given the authorities’ reluctance to release full investigation documents, some of which allegedly contain audio recordings implicating former government officials in obstructing investigations.
Commenting on the case, parliamentarian and legal affairs expert Salma Alaoui told Fes News: “This case is not just another corruption scandal—it is a model of how public funds were looted during the so-called ‘black decade,’ when dubious deals were sealed under political and legal cover.”
While Marrakech residents await answers about the fate of their vanished lands in the casino deal, the recent arrests, though significant, may not close the case entirely. Many believe justice will only be served when all parties involved are held accountable—especially those who remain shielded by their positions or foreign nationalities, according to testimonies from some victims of the deal.
The pressing question now is: Will this chapter mark the end of the saga, or is it merely a temporary pause before an even bigger corruption scandal erupts?
Fes News – Special Correspondent from Marrakech
source : fesnews media
