فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
The Public Prosecution at the Ain Sebaa Criminal Court in Casablanca revealed, on Tuesday, updates regarding the case involving the prosecution of five individuals suspected of involvement in crimes punishable by law. The main suspect in the case is currently at large outside the country, specifically in Canada.
Mr. Jamal Lahrour, Deputy King’s Prosecutor at the Ain Sebaa Criminal Court, stated that “in connection with this matter, the National Judicial Police Brigade in Casablanca had previously presented, on March 1, 2025, five individuals before this Public Prosecution, including a minor girl aged approximately 15 years. This followed a complaint filed by a woman who, along with her family, was subjected to defamation, threats, and extortion using certain instant messaging applications (WhatsApp).”
In response to this complaint, Mr. Lahrour explained during a press conference that the Public Prosecution ordered the opening of a judicial investigation, which was entrusted to the National Judicial Police Brigade. The latter gathered material and technical evidence that concretely confirms their involvement in committing the criminal acts carried out—and still being carried out—by the main suspect, who is connected to them by familial ties.
He clarified that the suspects provided the main suspect with means to facilitate these crimes by supplying him with Moroccan phone numbers and the associated SIM cards. The main suspect used these to create and activate social media accounts, including the phone number used to threaten the complainant. This was confirmed through technical expertise conducted on the seized phones. Additionally, they received financial transfers from victims of defamation and extortion and assisted the main suspect in editing and modifying videos posted on social media platforms.
Regarding the minor girl, Mr. Lahrour confirmed that technical investigations conducted by the National Judicial Police Brigade revealed that the phone number used to threaten the complainant had previously been registered on her phone. The plastic SIM card holder for the number under investigation, along with five other plastic holders for SIM cards with different phone numbers, were found in her bedroom. During a legal hearing in the presence of her guardian, she admitted to having registered phone numbers on her device, which the main suspect used to activate and create WhatsApp accounts and social media profiles for the purpose of extortion, defamation, threats, and other criminal activities.
He emphasized that “in the best interest of the minor and in accordance with legal procedures applicable to juveniles, the minor girl was referred to the juvenile judge, who decided to place her in a child care center.”
Consequently, Mr. Jamal Lahrour confirmed that the Public Prosecution charged the five suspects with participating in the insult of a constitutional body, the insult of an organized body, the fabrication and distribution of false allegations and facts aimed at violating private life and defaming others, and participating in the offense of threats. An additional charge of insulting a lawyer in the course of his duties was added for one of the suspects. They were referred to the court in a state of detention for trial in accordance with the law, given the seriousness of the acts committed.
He concluded that the mentioned individuals enjoyed all procedural guarantees provided by the law at the time of their arrest and during their appearance before the Public Prosecution, including their right to legal representation during the interrogation phase.
Mr. Lahrour further stated, “While informing the public of the aforementioned facts, this Public Prosecution confirms that, as of today, Tuesday, an additional group of individuals suspected of involvement in defamation and extortion crimes was presented. Following this, one suspect was prosecuted for the offense of insulting an organized body, fabricating and distributing false allegations and facts aimed at violating private life and defaming others, and participating in such acts. The cases against the remaining suspects were closed.”
He concluded by noting that the investigation is still ongoing to apprehend the remaining individuals involved in the mentioned criminal activities.
