فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
The Criminal Chamber specializing in financial crimes at the Court of Appeal in Fès issued rulings on Tuesday in a high-profile corruption case involving charges of embezzlement of public funds, forgery of official documents, and bribery. This case, which sent shockwaves through the Fès-Meknès region, followed a thorough review of the file under a public lawsuit involving a network of financial corruption.
Details of the Ruling in the Public Lawsuit
The first defendant, a head of the Budget and Procurement Department, was convicted on charges of embezzling public funds, forging official documents, and accepting bribes. The court sentenced him to five years of imprisonment, along with a financial fine of 100,000 dirhams. The second defendant, a contractor, was found guilty of participating in embezzling public funds and using forged official documents. He was sentenced to four years in prison and a fine of 50,000 dirhams. The third defendant, also a contractor, was sentenced to 18 months in prison (one and a half years) and a fine of 30,000 dirhams.
The court acquitted three other defendants of the charges brought against them in this case.
Ruling in the Civil Lawsuit
In the civil lawsuit, the court ruled it lacked jurisdiction to hear the claims filed by some civil parties. However, it accepted the claim submitted by the Kingdom of Morocco, represented by the Ministry of the Interior and the Fès-Meknès Region, ordering the three convicted defendants to pay financial compensation to the state totaling 6,703,694 dirhams, in addition to another amount of 600,000 dirhams as further compensation.
Background of the Case
This case dates back to a complaint filed by a contractor who accused a public official of delaying payments and engaging in questionable practices in public procurement. This prompted an in-depth investigation by the judicial police in Fès, which uncovered a network involved in crimes of corruption, including document forgery, bribery, and abuse of power. Several contractors were also found complicit in systematic operations to embezzle public funds.
This ruling marks an important step in the fight against financial and administrative corruption, reflecting the judicial system’s efforts to achieve justice and hold those responsible for the misappropriation of public funds accountable. It also contributes to strengthening public trust in the legal system and accountability procedures.
Source: Fès News Media
