On September 12, 2026, at 20:00, the Public Prosecutor's Office at the Appeals Court in Fes announced the resumption of investigations into the allegations made by former imprisoned MP Rashid Al-Faik, who claims to have been subjected to extortion and threats during the 2021 electoral campaign. This decision comes in direct response to significant new information presented by his defense team during a press conference held in the city.
The Attorney General's official statement clarified that the revival of judicial proceedings was prompted by details that had not been included in the original complaint submitted earlier. It was emphasized that, in accordance with the legal powers vested in the public prosecutor, the investigation would continue to uncover the truth behind the allegations and to impose appropriate sanctions based on the findings of the inquiry.
The announcement outlined the handling of the case, noting that the complainant, while incarcerated at the local prison "Ras al-Ma," had filed his complaint on June 23, 2025, through his initial legal counsel against individuals he accused of extortion and intimidation related to imprisonment. Following this, the public prosecutor quickly initiated a judicial inquiry, which saw the deputy attorney general visit the prison on three separate occasions to hear his testimony and request supporting evidence for his claims.
Notably, the complainant refrained from providing any statements during these visits. He initially cited fatigue on August 8, 2025, then repeated his stance on August 11, claiming he had not recovered and was awaiting legal advice. By August 17, 2025, he declared his refusal to provide any clarification due to entering a hunger strike, raising questions regarding the motivations behind this recurring reluctance.
In light of the complainant's refusal to testify and the absence of any material evidence substantiating the allegations, the public prosecutor decided to temporarily shelve the case on August 29, 2025, due to the complainant's unwillingness to confirm his complaint. However, he declined to receive the official notification of this decision. A similar situation arose on July 14, 2026, when the defense appealed for the reopening of the case, leading to the decision to maintain the shelving due to the lack of new elements or evidence justifying such a move.
The statement concluded by indicating that the new data publicly presented by the defense during the press conference necessitated the reopening of the case and the continuation of judicial proceedings to verify the facts and accurately determine legal responsibilities.
During this press conference, lawyer Mohammed Hassi stirred significant political and media turmoil by discussing substantial financial sums and instances of extortion that allegedly affected his client during the 2021 electoral process. The defense's narrative included shocking claims regarding an amount nearing seven billion centimes found in the trunk of a gray "Volvo" car, purportedly owned by Mohammed Chouki, a leader in the National Rally of Independents party, along with additional sums of 800 million and 200 million centimes. The defense asserted that Al-Faik possesses photographs of the vehicle and audio recordings to support his claims.
The allegations extended to closed meetings held in the offices of the House of Representatives, where Al-Faik was reportedly pressured by prominent party leaders, including the Speaker of the House, Rashid Talbi Alami, and Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament, Mustafa Baitas, to relinquish his position in the regional council within 48 hours. Al-Faik reportedly refused, insisting on the validity of his electoral support, which exceeded 31,000 votes.
In an effort to substantiate these allegations, the defense has made available all recordings and images in their possession for judicial examination, thus shifting this complex case from media advocacy platforms to the corridors of judicial investigation at the Fes Appeals Court. This transition aims to ascertain the veracity of these narratives and impose appropriate legal consequences based on the outcomes of the investigation.
As reported by ar.le360.ma.
