Sahara's Escobar: Appeals Court Hearing Commences in Casablanca
The high-profile case known as the "Escobar of the Sahara" has entered a new judicial phase as it progresses to the appeals court in Casablanca. This case involves notable figures, including the former president of Wydad Casablanca, Saïd Naciri, and the ex-president of the Oriental region, Abdenbi Bioui, who are facing serious charges stemming from earlier convictions.
On August 3, it was reported that the case had been officially transferred to the appeals chamber of the Casablanca Court of Appeal on July 29. The first hearing, which will focus on the appeals, is scheduled for Wednesday at 9 AM in room number 8, where the initial panel of the appeals chamber will preside. However, there is a possibility that this hearing may be postponed due to various factors including the preparation needs of the defense, ongoing strikes among some lawyers, and the judicial vacation period.
In the initial ruling, the criminal chamber responsible for financial crimes imposed sentences of up to 12 years in prison for the defendants. Abdenbi Bioui received this maximum sentence along with a hefty fine of 150,000 dirhams. Other defendants, including Saïd Naciri and Belkacem Mir, were sentenced to ten years each. The appeals process will allow the defendants to contest the decisions made in the initial trial.
Additionally, several other defendants received sentences ranging from two to nine years, depending on the specifics of their charges. Notably, Nasreddine Bettaïeb was acquitted as the court found insufficient evidence for the accusations against him. The financial ramifications of the case are significant, with the court ordering confiscations that include ten million dirhams from Abdenbi Bioui, eight million from Abderrahim Bioui, and six million from Saïd Naciri.
The financial aspects of the case also involve substantial penalties related to customs and indirect taxes, particularly concerning quantities of cannabis resin that were part of the proceedings. The total financial claims related to rights and reparations potentially amount to several billion dirhams. The judgment also addressed violations of currency regulations and aspects concerning gold trading.
The upcoming appeals hearings will provide a platform for the defense to raise procedural exceptions before delving into the core issues of the case. This phase of the trial is crucial as it sets the stage for the defendants to challenge the heavy penalties imposed during the initial proceedings.
As reported by lebrief.ma.
