An intriguing investigation by Parlement.com has revealed alarming details surrounding a real estate transaction involving Abdelouafi Laftit, Morocco's Minister of Interior. The inquiry highlights a questionable deal concerning a luxury property located in the Sidi Youssef Ben Ali area of Marrakech, which has raised several eyebrows and calls for intervention from the public prosecutor's office.
According to the findings discussed in a video segment on the YouTube channel 'Dira Ha Gha Zwina' by Parlement.com, Minister Laftit purchased a parcel of land known as 'Ftitah 1'. This expansive property spans over a hectare (10,300 square meters) and includes a villa, a well, and several apple trees. The purchase price, reported to be 7 million and 100 thousand dirhams, is strikingly low compared to the actual market value, which experts estimate to be between 1.5 billion and 3 billion centimes as of 2017, with current values likely exceeding that figure.
The investigation revealed that the property changed hands through a company owned by well-known businessmen, who initially acquired it from the state for 7 million dirhams in March 2021. Remarkably, just five and a half months later, they sold the property to Laftit for the same price, despite not making any profit from the transaction and incurring registration costs. This peculiar transfer has raised questions about the motivations behind the sale and the implications of such dealings.
Additionally, the timing of the purchase coincides with a decision regarding 'urban renewal' in the area, which was approved by the Marrakech Municipal Council, led by President Al-Mansouri, in December 2022. This decision resulted in the demolition of nearby residents' homes, with compensation being alarmingly low at just 110 dirhams per square meter, paving the way for upscale villa developments in the area. Given the serious nature of these revelations, it is imperative for the public prosecutor's office to initiate an investigation into this matter.
As reported by goud.ma.
