Release of Promoters in the Casa Parc Controversy
In a significant turn of events regarding the Casa Parc real estate project located in Sidi Maârouf, the two main figures involved, Sadreddine Benhima and Hassan Benabdelali, who are half-brothers and leaders of the Treize-Huit company, have been released from custody after spending over two months in the Oukacha prison. This news was revealed by judicial sources to Le360.
The two real estate developers had been held for nearly 70 days under preventive detention following a ruling by the investigative judge at the Ain Sebaâ correctional court. They faced serious charges including fraud and forgery, primarily related to the sale of apartments within the Casa Parc project.
The Casa Parc initiative, spearheaded by Treize-Huit, aimed to establish a large residential complex consisting of approximately 1,200 apartments and plots of land in Sidi Maârouf, a neighborhood in the southeastern outskirts of Casablanca. Although the project was initially slated for completion around 2016, it has experienced significant delays. Many buyers have formed a collective to file legal actions, demanding either the delivery of their properties or refunds for the payments made.
The trial, which commenced on March 25, has seen numerous developments throughout its sessions. A considerable number of plaintiffs chose to withdraw their complaints in exchange for refunds of their deposits, some of which had been outstanding for over twelve years. This shift may have influenced the decision to release the two defendants, despite the ongoing legal proceedings.
In parallel to the disputes with buyers, Attijariwafa Bank, the primary creditor, secured a court ruling ordering Treize-Huit to repay nearly 500 million dirhams in debts. Subsequently, the bank initiated forced execution procedures, leading to the seizure of assets tied to the project and some personal properties belonging to the developers.
In a 2019 interview with Le360, as the first victims began organizing protests on the project site, Sadreddine Benhima provided insight into the situation. At that time, out of nearly 700 marketed apartments, the Casa Parc project had around 500 completed units distributed across 42 four-story buildings. However, only 320 apartments had legal ownership titles, while approximately 275 families were already residing there.
Benhima defended the project, stating, "People perceive it as a ghost project. However, it is an ambitious endeavor. Considering the infrastructure and amenities—such as potable water, electricity, and stormwater drainage—Casa Parc represents the largest private development in Casablanca. The roadworks alone required an investment of 60 to 70 million dirhams." He attributed the halt in construction to administrative blockages related to the modified urban plan awaiting approval from civil protection authorities and the tax on undeveloped land imposed by the Casablanca municipality.
Regarding media reports suggesting that 250 million dirhams had been embezzled, Benhima contested those figures, explaining that the average price of an apartment is 900,000 dirhams. With a standard advance payment rate of 15%, the total advance from clients would be around 140 million dirhams, not 250 million as claimed, subtracting about 30 million dirhams already refunded.
It is crucial to note that the release of the two promoters does not signify the conclusion of legal actions, nor does it close the Casa Parc case.
As reported by fr.le360.ma.
