The Court of Appeals in Fes, presided over by Judge Mohamed Ben Maachou, has wrapped up one of the most significant financial corruption cases in the eastern region of Morocco. The court upheld most of the initial rulings against twelve defendants involved in the embezzlement and misappropriation of funds from the "Omaran Al-Sharq" company, a case that has shaken public opinion following the disappearance of substantial amounts of money nearing 61 billion centimes (approximately 61 million USD).
The judicial panel confirmed the primary ruling against Zekriya Lazrak, the former CEO of the company, sentencing him to eight years in prison and imposing a fine of 100,000 dirhams. This sentence was handed down after it was established that he was deeply involved in serious charges, including the embezzlement of public funds, abuse of power, and using fraudulent means to eliminate competitors, in addition to receiving benefits from an institution he managed.
The court's decisions did not stop at the company's upper management; they extended to technical staff and contractors as well. The ruling confirmed a three-year prison sentence along with a fine of 50,000 dirhams for Abdel Khalek Amnih, found guilty of misappropriating public funds. Similarly, the court upheld a one-year prison sentence and a fine of 30,000 dirhams for Abdel Aziz Amsalk for his involvement in the misappropriation of public funds, abuse of power, and assisting in the elimination of competitors.
In a related context, the court maintained the sentences for several contractors and business owners, confirming one-year prison sentences and fines of 20,000 dirhams each for Anas Ludi and Mohamed Laajab. This confirmation followed the court's decision to reclassify the accusations against them from "participation in the misappropriation of public funds" to the more direct charge of "misappropriation."
It is noteworthy that the court upheld most of the rulings issued by the initial Financial Crimes Chamber, which was presided over by Judge Mohamed Lahya in November of the previous year, with the only exception being the overturning of the acquittal of two defendants, converting it into a conviction with a one-year prison sentence for the first defendant and six months for the second.
The details of this sensational case trace back to an official complaint lodged by the parent company "Omaran," the government agency responsible for housing and urban planning. This complaint followed the detection by internal audit and inspection committees of severe financial and managerial irregularities, which included the evaporation of astronomical sums from the bank accounts of the company’s branch in the eastern region. This mismanagement caused significant damage to the institution's finances and stalled various developmental projects, leading to a judicial process that attracted considerable public attention in Morocco as a notable example of accountability and protection of public funds.
As reported by nadorcity.com.
