فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Sidi Kacem, Morocco – The National Brigade of Judicial Police (BNPJ) this week concluded its investigation into an explosive case that has made headlines in Sidi Kacem: the conversion of a public social complex, funded under the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), into a hotel with a bar. After more than a year of investigations, the BNPJ submitted a comprehensive report to the Public Prosecutor at the Rabat Court of Appeal.
The report includes supporting documents and audit reports, notably those issued by the General Inspectorate of Territorial Administration (IGAT), an entity affiliated with the Ministry of Interior.
Absence of Official IGAT Inspection Report Raises Questions
According to sources close to the investigation, an IGAT inspection mission did visit the site and reviewed documents related to the site’s conversion. However, no official report was issued after this visit, raising questions about the level of transparency in handling the case.
The BNPJ’s report indicates that more than 60 people were interviewed, including several current and former officials from the communal and provincial councils of Sidi Kacem, among them the two presidents of these institutions.
The investigation follows a complaint filed in February 2024 by Abdellah El Hafid, a former MP from the Istiqlal Party and local elected official. The case was further strengthened by a second complaint from the Higher Council of Accounts, which noted serious irregularities in the management of this public property.
No Legal Justification to Continue Investigation: Path Open for Criminal Prosecution
The final BNPJ report confirms that there is no legal justification to continue the investigation at this stage, which opens the way for criminal prosecutions against individuals identified as responsible for the acts.
In late December 2024, the Ministry of Interior had officially filed a complaint against those involved in this illegal conversion. According to administrative sources, the acts concern “prosecutable offenses” related to the construction and operation of the reception and training center in Sidi Kacem.
Among the irregularities noted were the manual obtaining of administrative authorizations, the irregular issuance of certificates outside competence, and the illegal granting of commercial licenses.
Upon the revelation of the initial elements of the case, the Public Prosecutor ordered precautionary measures, including a travel ban for three implicated individuals.
