The political landscape in Tanger has become increasingly tumultuous as Mayor Mounir Laymouri finds himself embroiled in a judicial investigation surrounding alleged electoral irregularities that surfaced during the legislative elections held last Wednesday. Recent reports from various Moroccan media outlets indicate that a national search order has been issued for Laymouri, who has publicly denied fleeing the country, asserting instead that he plans to return on Monday to face the authorities.
In an interview with the Moroccan news outlet Al3omk, Laymouri explained that he left Morocco on Thursday night via the Ceuta border crossing and subsequently took a boat to Spain. He insists that his trip was pre-planned and connected to a professional engagement with Spanish clients scheduled for Friday morning, which he had postponed due to the elections. Laymouri maintains that his departure was unrelated to the ongoing investigation in Tanger and expressed his intention to return to provide necessary explanations, stating, "I will be back in Tanger on Monday to clarify everything," according to Al3omk. He has also refuted any connection with the discovery of ballots found at a polling station in the city.
The backdrop of Laymouri's explanation comes amid reports that Moroccan authorities had issued a national search warrant for him. As detailed by Le360, the Judicial Police had visited his home in an attempt to locate him following mentions made by one of the individuals under investigation during their testimony. Despite their efforts, Laymouri was not found, leading authorities to confirm that he had left the country.
This investigation was triggered when a man was apprehended at the Al Qods school in Tanger, caught with a bag full of numerous ballots and allegedly irregular electoral documentation during the legislative elections. Reports indicate that the number of arrests linked to this case has risen to five individuals. Laymouri's involvement is primarily due to his role as the Mayor of Tanger and his leadership of the campaign for the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) in the city during the elections.
According to Le360, one of the arrested individuals referenced Laymouri during their statement, prompting the Judicial Police to seek him out for a confrontation. The existence of a search order has been a point of contention among media reports, with Le360 asserting that Moroccan authorities have indeed issued a national warrant for Laymouri, while other sources have even suggested an international search order. However, LeBrief has reported that a source close to the mayor has denied the issuance of such a warrant, noting the absence of any official announcement from judicial or police authorities confirming this action.
As reported by europasur.es.
