Investigation Wraps Up in Fes Building Collapse
On Wednesday, July 22, 2026, the investigating judge in the first chamber of the Appeals Court in Fes concluded the detailed interrogation of eight individuals who are currently detained, along with eleven others who are free, in connection with the tragic collapse of two buildings in the "Moustakbal" neighborhood of the city. This disaster, which occurred in December of the previous year, resulted in the loss of 22 lives and left 16 others injured. Among those facing charges are Ismail Jayi, the president of the Zouagha district, and his deputy, Abdullah Al-Hadif, both of whom are implicated in this unfortunate incident.
According to a source familiar with the matter, as reported by "Telquel Arabic," the investigating judge has transferred the case file to the Attorney General to present his final conclusions before proceeding with indictments before the criminal chamber. Earlier in April, the judge had decided to pursue criminal charges against the eight detained suspects as part of the investigation mandated by the public prosecution.
The list of those charged, which was obtained by "Telquel Arabic," includes several civil servants, authority agents, and contractors. Among them are Mohammed Badoui and Azouz Lghader, the original owners of the collapsed buildings, as well as Abdel Majid Muhtal, a civil service employee responsible for signature verification, and Tawfiq Al-Naji, a civil service employee tasked with civil status duties. Additionally, the list features Ahmed Ghanmat and Nour Eddine Bouibran, authority agents of the "Sheikh" rank, along with Nour Eddine Al-Rawi, a contractor and real estate intermediary operating in the Zouagha district, all of whom have been remanded to the local prison in Bourkaiz.
Conversely, the investigating judge has opted to pursue charges against eleven individuals who are currently free, including Ismail Jayi, the president of the Zouagha district, his deputies Abdullah Al-Hadif from the National Rally of Independents, and Al-Khamar Samouh from the Authenticity and Modernity Party, in addition to several authority agents, public registrars, and engineers.
The Attorney General of the Appeals Court in Fes announced in a public statement that both technical and judicial investigations have led to charges against 21 individuals, with eight of them being imprisoned and further investigations continuing for the remaining suspects who are free. The statement highlighted that the investigations, based on field observations and technical expert reports, uncovered serious violations during the construction process, including the unauthorized erection of additional floors and the use of second-hand building materials, as well as illegal transfers of air rights.
Moreover, the findings indicated that contracts of sale were drafted outside the legal framework, and occupancy certificates were issued without adhering to the prevailing laws, reflecting severe mismanagement in urban planning. In light of these revelations, the public prosecution has submitted a request to the investigating judge to initiate preparatory investigations against the implicated parties, suspected of serious crimes such as involuntary manslaughter, bribery, misappropriation of non-transferable assets, and issuing administrative certificates unlawfully.
The public prosecution has asserted its commitment to closely monitoring this case, ensuring the proper application of the law, and keeping the public informed about the developments of this critical matter, which has brought to the forefront the issues surrounding illegal construction and the responsibilities of those involved in the urban development sector.
As reported by ar.telquel.ma.
