Events at Beni Ansar border crossing: defendants reject “remote trial” and court complies

Judicial developments in the Beni Ansar border crossing incident case

The Court of First Instance in Nador witnessed notable developments during Monday’s session regarding the individuals prosecuted over the riots at the Beni Ansar border crossing. The court decided to postpone the consideration of the files after the defendants expressed a categorical refusal to appear before the court via remote communication technology.

Demands for fair trial guarantees

The defendants insisted on their constitutional right to appear in person before the court, arguing that remote proceedings limit their ability to properly present their defense. The detainees also requested additional time to appoint lawyers and prepare their case files, requests that the court granted to ensure the conditions for a fair trial.

Case details and figures

According to available data, the 50 defendants are distributed across 13 judicial files. Among them, 43 are in pre-trial detention, while 7 others are being prosecuted while at liberty. The charges against them vary, including insulting public officials, use of violence, and damaging public property during attempts to storm the border crossing.

Organization of upcoming trial sessions

The method of appearance varied during today’s session: 11 people were physically transported to the courtroom, while the rest, including one female detainee, participated via video link from the prison facility. Based on these developments, the court set a schedule for upcoming sessions; a session was scheduled for Thursday, August 13, for those who insisted on their right to physical presence, while the sessions for those who requested time to retain defense counsel were adjourned to Monday, August 17.