Marrakech Court Sentences Police Officer to Six Years for Sexual Assault on Minor

On Wednesday, September 30, the primary criminal chamber of the Marrakech Court of Appeal sentenced a police officer, holding the rank of sergeant, to six years of imprisonment for his involvement in a case concerning the sexual assault of a minor male. In addition to the prison sentence, the court ruled in the civil claim that the accused must pay a civil compensation of sixty thousand dirhams to the plaintiff, representing the minor victim, while also ordering the payment of legal costs.

The details surrounding this case date back to late August when officers from the judicial police of the Marrakech Security Directorate apprehended the police officer on the evening of Friday, August 28, following a complaint lodged by the father of a minor approximately sixteen years old. The father became concerned about the nature of the relationship between his son and the police officer after discovering conversations between them on the instant messaging application, WhatsApp. This prompted him to file a complaint with the relevant authorities.

The police officer was subsequently referred to the public prosecutor at the Marrakech Court of Appeal, who decided to pursue charges while the officer remained in custody, ordering him to be brought before an investigating judge for further inquiry. This request was granted by the investigating judge. During the investigation phase, the accused's mobile phone was subjected to a technical examination, which revealed conversations between him and the minor. The minor was then heard by the public prosecution in the presence of his guardian, alongside the police officer.

Upon completing the investigation procedures, the accused was brought before the primary criminal chamber, which ultimately found him guilty and sentenced him to six years of effective imprisonment, in addition to the civil compensation awarded to the minor victim. Regarding the seized items, the court ordered the destruction of the cardboard box containing the substance of the tobacco product involved in the case, while also instructing that the mobile phones be returned to their rightful owners after deleting any indecent conversations and images stored on them.

As reported by al3omk.com.