Trial Adjourned for Defendants Involved in Fes Building Collapse
On September 8, 2026, at 10:00 PM, the criminal court responsible for financial crimes at the Court of Appeal in Fes postponed the trial of individuals implicated in the collapse of two buildings in the "Al-Mustaqbal" neighborhood of the Al-Masira district. The adjournment is scheduled until September 29 of the current month, allowing the defendants the opportunity to appoint legal representation. This delay comes as a result of the lawyers' ongoing boycott of judicial services in protest against a new professional law that was enacted a few weeks prior.
The case involves a total of eight defendants who are currently in custody, alongside eleven others who are free, including the head of the Zouagha district, Ismail Al-Jai Al-Mansouri, and his deputy, Abdullah Al-Hadaf. The court has decided to postpone the proceedings to ensure that all defendants can appoint their defense team and proceed with the trial under conditions that guarantee their legal rights.
During the session, the detained defendants requested temporary release from the court, citing their social circumstances and expressing their willingness to appear before the court whenever summoned. In April, the investigating judge had ordered the detention of eight individuals while allowing eleven others to remain free as part of an inquiry aimed at establishing responsibility for the tragedy that resulted in the deaths of 22 individuals and injuries to 16 others in December of the previous year.
The list of defendants includes municipal employees, government officials, a contractor, and a real estate broker. Those charged while free also include the head of the Zouagha district and his deputies, as well as other officials and engineers. The public prosecutor at the Court of Appeal in Fes had previously announced that the results of technical and judicial investigations led to the prosecution of 21 individuals, revealing significant violations during the construction process. These violations included the illegal addition of extra floors, the use of second-hand building materials, improper management of air rights, and the issuance of sales contracts and occupancy certificates in violation of legal provisions.
Based on these findings, the prosecution has requested the initiation of preliminary investigations against those involved, suspecting their involvement in crimes related to unintentional homicide and injury, bribery, mismanagement of non-transferable assets, and the issuance of administrative certificates without lawful grounds. They confirmed that they will continue monitoring the case until all phases of inquiry and investigation are completed.
As reported by ar.le360.ma.
