Public Prosecutor's Investigation into Inmate's Claims of Extortion
On September 12, 2026, the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Appeal in Fes disclosed that the prosecution intends to continue investigating a complaint filed by an inmate who alleged that he was subjected to extortion and threats of imprisonment during the 2021 election campaign. This decision aims to establish the necessary legal consequences based on the findings of the inquiry.
According to a statement from the Public Prosecutor, the investigation follows a press conference held by a lawyer from the Bar Association in Fes, who addressed a complaint that had previously been submitted regarding his client, who is currently serving a prison sentence. The prosecutor's office became aware of new details related to the complaint based on statements made by the lawyer during the press conference, which had not been included in the original complaint.
The Public Prosecutor emphasized the legal authority vested in them and the necessity to delve deeper into the inmate's claims, thus determining the appropriate legal repercussions. The inmate, who had been incarcerated at the Ras Al-Maa local prison, filed his complaint on June 23, 2025, through his initial legal representation, alleging that he faced extortion and threats of imprisonment in connection with the 2021 election campaign.
In a bid to engage constructively with the inmate's claims, the prosecution initiated an inquiry. A deputy public prosecutor visited the prison on three separate occasions to listen to the complainant and clarify his allegations, requesting that he provide evidence to substantiate his claims. During the first meeting on August 8, 2025, the inmate expressed that he was too fatigued to make a statement. On the second visit, on August 11, he again refused to provide any remarks regarding his complaint, citing a lack of recovery and the need to consult with his lawyer. By the third meeting on August 17, he stated that he would abstain from commenting due to a hunger strike he had initiated.
The Public Prosecutor's office noted its immediate response to the inmate's complaint, even as the inmate refrained from providing any details or clarifications, raising significant questions about the motivations behind this behavior. Given the inmate's refusal to testify, despite the prosecutor's repeated efforts to conduct interviews and record statements, the prosecution concluded that the inquiry into the complaint was contingent upon the inmate's willingness to provide crucial statements, particularly since the complaint lacked supporting details and evidence.
Consequently, the prosecution decided to temporarily archive the complaint on August 29, 2025, due to the inmate's lack of desire to confirm his allegations. An official notice regarding this decision was sent to the inmate, which he declined to accept.
On July 14, 2026, the inmate's legal team submitted a request to the prosecution to reopen the archived complaint. However, upon review, it became evident that the request did not introduce any new elements that warranted unarchiving the case, especially concerning evidentiary support for the inmate's claims. Despite being granted multiple opportunities to provide such evidence, the prosecution maintained the decision to keep the complaint archived, and the inmate was duly notified.
As reported by medialive.ma.
