Significant Legal Developments in Fes Building Collapse Case
On September 29, 2026, the criminal chamber responsible for financial crimes at the Court of Appeal in Fes made a crucial decision to postpone the trial concerning the collapse of two residential buildings in the 'Moustakbel' subdivision located in the Al-Masira neighborhood of Bensouda. The hearing has now been rescheduled for October 20, 2026. This delay was initiated primarily to allow for the re-summoning of the Kingdom's legal representative and the defendants who failed to appear, in addition to providing the defense team with extra time to prepare their case.
The case involves 19 defendants, among whom eight are currently in custody while the remaining eleven are free. This group consists of various individuals including officials, municipal employees, authority assistants, elected representatives, and a real estate developer alongside a manager from the 'Al Omrane' company. The charges leveled against these individuals include bribery, illegal construction, and causing unintentional death and injury due to violations of urban planning laws and regulations.
The backdrop of this tragic case dates back to the night of December 9, 2025, when the two buildings, constructed in 2006 as part of the 'Fes Without Slums' initiative, collapsed. This disastrous event resulted in the death of 22 individuals and left 16 others injured, highlighting significant concerns regarding building regulations and oversight in the region.
As reported by marrakechalaan.com.
