Mounir Laymouri's Commitment to Address Allegations
Mounir Laymouri, the Mayor of Tanger, has announced his intention to return to Morocco following a national search order linked to an investigation into alleged irregularities during the legislative elections held on September 23. In a phone interview with Le360, Laymouri, who is also the president of the Tanger Municipal Council and a member of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), stated, "Contrary to false insinuations, I have no connection to this case nor have I fled Morocco. I plan to return to Tanger on Monday after a business trip to Spain."
Investigations and Allegations Surrounding the Elections
The controversy began on election day when irregular electoral documents were discovered at a polling station located in Al Qods School in the Casabarata neighborhood. A video of the incident swiftly circulated on social media, igniting significant public outcry. Following the incident, investigations led by the Prosecutor's Office resulted in the arrest of five suspects, including two presidents of electoral tables, their two deputies, and another individual. While four of the suspects were made available to the Prosecutor’s Office, the fifth remained in police custody for further investigation.
Additionally, the Prosecutor's Office has referred the case to an investigative judge to initiate judicial proceedings concerning alleged crimes related to electoral process manipulation and forgery. It is within this context that Laymouri's name surfaced, as he was responsible for PAM's electoral campaign in Tanger. An authorized source indicated that one of the suspects mentioned Laymouri during questioning, prompting Judicial Police agents to visit the mayor’s residence for interrogation and to arrange a confrontation with this suspect, who is also affiliated with PAM.
Authorities confirmed that Laymouri had left the country for Spain on Thursday night, leading to the issuance of a national search order against him. However, he has maintained that his trip was solely for professional purposes and has denied any intention to evade the investigation.
In response to the allegations surrounding the elections in Tanger, the collective leadership of the PAM issued a statement on September 23. They condemned what they described as a "malicious and fabricated campaign" and a "political conspiracy." The party asserted that the incidents reported at various polling stations were part of a "carefully orchestrated scenario" aimed at damaging their reputation. Simultaneously, PAM expressed its support for the initiation of a judicial investigation under the supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office to fully clarify the matter.
As reported by es.le360.ma.
