The Mayor of Tangier, Munir Lemouri, a prominent member of the Authenticity and Modernity Party, has broken his silence regarding the controversy that erupted following his departure from the country amid ongoing investigations into the incident at the Al-Quds School in Tangier. He provided his own account of his journey to Spain, vehemently denying any connection between his departure from Morocco and an attempt to evade investigation or legal accountability.
In an interview with the newspaper "Assahifa," Lemouri detailed his travel story, stating that he left Tangier for Spain on a ferry late Thursday evening. He clarified that his trip was linked to both professional and personal commitments, after which he decided to have his family join him in Spain for a brief visit. He emphasized that he was unaware of any arrest warrant against him at the time of his departure, only learning about it after arriving in Spain, which prompted him to verify his legal standing by reaching out to his lawyer.
Lemouri firmly stated that he had not received any summons from judicial police either before or after his travel, nor had he been contacted by any security official regarding the ongoing investigation into the incident at polling station number 84 at the Al-Quds institution, which is under the jurisdiction of the Souani district. Upon becoming aware of the discussions surrounding the matter, he did not view it as an excuse to distance himself from the investigation; instead, he proactively contacted his lawyer, instructing him to notify the judicial police of his readiness to appear in person at their offices on Monday morning to provide his statements and answer any questions related to the ongoing inquiry.
Regarding the Al-Quds School incident, Lemouri categorically denied any involvement in the events that transpired within the polling station. He argued that the mere mention of his name by an individual currently under investigation does not constitute evidence of his connection to the actions under scrutiny. He stressed that his position within the Authenticity and Modernity Party and his political role should not serve as a basis for presuming his liability for incidents that are still under judicial investigation. He reiterated his willingness to provide any clarifications requested by the judicial police, leaving the determination of responsibilities to the competent judicial authorities based on the findings of the investigations.
Lemouri also pointed out that the implications of the case have extended beyond his personal involvement, affecting the Authenticity and Modernity Party as a whole. He noted that the developments following the Al-Quds School incident have had repercussions on the party and various aspects related to the electoral process in the relevant constituency. He reaffirmed his readiness to appear before the judicial police and share all pertinent information he possesses regarding the case.
The controversy dates back to the events that unfolded at polling station number 84 at the Al-Quds institution on election day, where images and videos circulated showing blank ballots and a bag, raising significant questions about the electoral process at that location. This led the matter to transition from social media discourse to an official judicial path.
Initially, Lemouri was identified as the election campaign manager for the Authenticity and Modernity Party. According to available information, the party filed a complaint concerning the events that occurred inside the educational institution, linking his name from the outset to the reporting of the contentious incidents. However, the case took a new turn when Lemouri himself became one of the individuals subjected to the investigative procedures conducted by the judicial police under the supervision of the relevant public prosecutor's office, tasked with interviewing those involved and verifying various details related to the events that transpired at the polling station.
According to the available information, the public prosecutor's office has instructed the judicial police to listen to Lemouri, given his position and party responsibility, alongside Abdel Latif El Ghabzouri, the candidate representing the Authenticity and Modernity Party in the relevant constituency. This inquiry aims to clarify the circumstances and details surrounding the incident.
In a parallel development, the number of individuals detained in connection with the case has reportedly risen to five, while efforts to gather information and conduct interviews related to the events at the polling station continue, with the goal of identifying the nature of the actions taken and potential individual responsibilities.
As reported by assahifa.com.
