Faouzi Skali Found Not Guilty in Appeal Regarding Sacred Music Festival
On July 7th, the Court of Appeal in Fez exonerated Faouzi Skali from charges related to mismanagement of the Fez Sacred Music Festival. As the former director of the event, Skali had previously been sentenced in the first instance to two years of suspended imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 dirhams for administrative and financial violations. However, the appellate court overturned these convictions, clearing him of any wrongdoing.
Contrarily, the court imposed a one-year suspended sentence along with a fine of 50,000 dirhams on Abdel Rafiq Zouiten, the head of the Spirit of Fez Foundation that organizes the festival. Zouiten had initially received a two-year suspended prison sentence and a 100,000 dirham fine. Several other individuals associated with the case were also acquitted, while the charges against Idriss Fasi, who has recently passed away, were dismissed.
This legal proceeding stemmed from a complaint lodged by the treasurer and the secretary-general, both members of the board of the Spirit of Fez Foundation, against Zouiten and Skali. In a statement to Yabiladi following the appeal's verdict, Skali remarked that this ruling marks a "decisive legal development that permanently resolves this case," emphasizing his "complete absence" of involvement in the alleged infractions.
As reported by ar.yabiladi.com.
