The Appeals Chamber for Financial Crimes at the Court of Appeal in Fes, presided over by Judge Mohamed Ben Maâcho, has concluded a significant case of financial corruption in the eastern region of Morocco. The court affirmed most of the initial rulings against twelve defendants involved in the embezzlement and misappropriation of funds from the "Omaran Al-Sharq" company, a scandal that has shaken public opinion due to the massive sums of money involved, totaling nearly 61 billion centimes (approximately 61 million dollars).
The judicial body confirmed the initial ruling against Zakaria Lazraq, the former general director of the company, sentencing him to eight years in prison and imposing a fine of 100,000 dirhams. This sentence followed evidence of his involvement in serious charges, including embezzlement of public funds, abuse of power, and the exclusion of competitors through fraudulent means, as well as receiving benefits from an institution he managed.
The repercussions of the verdict did not stop with the top management of the company; it extended to technical staff and contractors as well. The court upheld the initial ruling against Abdelkhaleq Amnih, sentencing him to three years in prison and a fine of 50,000 dirhams for the misappropriation of public funds. Additionally, the court confirmed the ruling against Abdelaziz Amsalk, who received a one-year prison sentence and a fine of 30,000 dirhams for participating in the misappropriation of public funds, abusing his influence, and aiding in the exclusion of competitors.
Moreover, the court maintained the penalties imposed on several contractors and company owners, upholding the sentence of one year in prison and a fine of 20,000 dirhams for both Anas Loudi and Mohammed Lajab. This decision came after the court reclassified the charges against them from "participation in the misappropriation of public funds" to direct "misappropriation".
It is worth noting that the court upheld most of the sentences issued by the initial Financial Crimes Chamber, which was headed by Judge Mohammed Lahia last November. An exception was made for two defendants whose acquittals were overturned and converted into convictions, resulting in a one-year prison sentence for the first defendant and a six-month sentence for the second.
The details of this sensational case stem from an official complaint filed by the parent company, "Omaran" (the government institution responsible for housing and urban planning), following the detection of severe financial and managerial irregularities by internal auditing committees. These irregularities involved the disappearance of astronomical sums from the bank accounts of the company's branch in the eastern region, causing significant damage to the institution's finances and disrupting several developmental projects. The case has since taken its judicial course, capturing the attention of Moroccan society as a prominent example of accountability and the protection of public funds.
As reported by nadorcity.com.
