Fes Court Issues Sentences in Municipal Warehouse Case
The Fes Court of Appeals has recently brought closure to a significant case involving a criminal network associated with the municipal warehouse in Oujda. In the early hours of Wednesday, the court sentenced 19 defendants to a total of 36 years in prison, based on accusations of embezzlement and illegal manipulation of seized property. The former manager of the municipal warehouse received a five-year prison sentence along with a fine of 50,000 dirhams. Other defendants were sentenced to four years of imprisonment each, facing fines between 40,000 and 50,000 dirhams.
The court also imposed varying sentences on the remaining defendants, which ranged from three months to five years of incarceration, alongside different monetary penalties, reflecting the degree of each individual's involvement in the alleged criminal activities.
This case traces back to investigations initiated by the regional judicial police of Fes, in coordination with the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance. The inquiries revealed a network suspected of exploiting the municipal warehouse for the illegal appropriation of seized vehicles and motorcycles. This was allegedly achieved through the forgery of license plates and the dismantling of vehicles for sale as parts in junk markets.
The investigation involved key personnel from the municipal warehouse, several public employees, and presumed collaborators. Searches conducted during the inquiry led to the seizure of ten vehicles, 17 motorcycles, and 38 dismantled vehicle chassis, in addition to significant quantities of spare parts and various electronic equipment.
The defendants face serious charges, including embezzlement and misappropriation of public and private funds, misappropriation of items entrusted to them due to their official positions, document destruction, bribery, forgery of official documents, and participation in these crimes, each depending on their specific involvement.
As reported by 20minutes.ma.
