Surprise Judicial Inspection at the Fez Court of Appeal: Heavy Files Under Scrutiny

In a move reflecting the judicial institution’s commitment to accountability, Mohamed Abdennabaoui, the Delegate President of the Supreme Council of the Judicial Power, dispatched a central inspection mission on Tuesday to examine several files described as “heavy” within the Court of Appeal in Fez.

Surprise visit by the Inspector General and examination of major files

According to available information, the mission was led by Inspector General Abdellah Hammoud and arrived unexpectedly at the court based on direct instructions from the Delegate President. The committee requested access to a number of sensitive judicial files, most notably a case involving eight defendants belonging to the “Ahtit” family from the Bounsar Targuist region in the Al Hoceima province. The mission was granted access to all requested information and documents.

The law authorizes the General Inspection of Judicial Affairs, at the request of the Delegate President or the Public Prosecutor, to conduct urgent inspections outside the established annual program whenever necessary, provided the Supreme Council of the Judicial Power is notified.

Background of the case and judicial path

The details of this case date back to July 14, when the Correctional Chamber, presided over by Judge Mohamed El Zine, decided to cancel a previous ruling and order the continued prosecution of the defendants. This followed an earlier decision by investigating judge Adel El Mokhbar to drop the charges against the defendants and release the seizure of their properties and bank accounts associated with the investigation conducted by the National Brigade of Judicial Police (BNPJ).

Financial investigations and money laundering complaint

In the same context, the National Brigade of Judicial Police, under the instructions of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, has initiated detailed financial investigations in accordance with anti-money laundering laws against the suspects. These investigations aim to trace the path of any funds potentially derived from illicit activities and invested in commercial or real estate projects.

It is noteworthy that the main defendant in the case, Mustapha Ahtit, was the subject of a complaint filed by an individual named Abdelkader Tamtam, containing information about a potential criminal network specializing in international drug trafficking and money laundering, as the individual has family ties to the other suspects. The list of names includes other family members, including civil servants and local elected officials, which adds a layer of complexity to the proceedings currently before the justice system.