Rabat Sentences Two Thieves to 20 Years in Prison
In a significant legal ruling, the Criminal Chamber of the Rabat Court of Appeal has sentenced two repeat offenders to a decade each in prison for a series of serious crimes that include armed theft, violence, and sexual assault against a minor. This judgment, delivered on the evening of April 5, 2026, comes in the wake of a shocking incident that was widely publicized through a viral video on social media platforms. The case has stirred public outrage and highlights ongoing efforts by security forces to combat crime in the region, as reported by _Al Akhbar_.
The crimes in question date back to January, when a video captured by bystanders depicted the two suspects perpetrating an armed robbery against a woman in broad daylight on the Belfellah road in Témara. Armed with large knives, the duo’s brazen actions were swiftly disseminated across social media, enabling the Royal Gendarmerie to quickly identify the culprits. Investigations revealed that these individuals, both in their twenties, were linked to numerous thefts and assaults across various districts within the Skhirat-Témara prefecture, including Harhoura, Aïn Atiq, Mers El Kheir, and Tamesna. Their modus operandi typically involved the use of motorcycles and bladed weapons.
Moreover, the investigation unveiled particularly disturbing allegations involving a minor. The suspects were apprehended in an apartment in Aïn Atiq alongside the victim, who reported being coerced into sexual relations with one of the suspects, resulting in her pregnancy—a fact corroborated by medical examinations ordered by the prosecution. Against a backdrop of heightened security concerns in Témara, authorities have also executed additional arrests, including one of a thirty-year-old man with no prior criminal record, who was caught for burglarizing a building that housed law firms, administrative offices, and medical practices, amassing stolen goods worth nearly two million dirhams.
In a separate operation, the Gendarmerie successfully dismantled a criminal network in Aïn Atiq that comprised five individuals, including a sub-Saharan national, specializing in motorcycle thefts. Several stolen motorcycles were recovered as the suspects were preparing to sell or disassemble them for parts. Ongoing investigations are aimed at uncovering potential buyers involved in this illicit trade.
As reported by fr.le360.ma.
