The criminal chamber of the Casablanca Court of Appeal has worsened the legal situation of Mohamed Karimine, former president of the commune of Bouznika, and Abdelaziz El Badraoui, in his capacity as an investor. The two men are now facing charges of embezzlement of public funds and abuse of power.
In its decision no. 28, the chamber confirmed the prosecution’s appeal against the referral order issued by the investigating judge.
The chamber thus ruled in favor of the public prosecutor’s request, deciding to prosecute Mohamed Karimine for the offense of abuse of power with the aim of committing an act constituting a crime of embezzlement, in accordance with articles 250 and 252 of the Penal Code.
Concerning Abdelaziz El Badraoui, businessman, and former president of Raja Casablanca, the court ordered his prosecution for complicity in the abuse of power aimed at carrying out an act falling within the crime of embezzlement, in accordance with articles 129, 250 and 252 of the Penal Code.
The public prosecutor at the Casablanca Court of Appeal had filed an appeal with the criminal chamber to add certain charges withdrawn by the investigating judge.
Following the decision of the criminal chamber, and after its reformulation, the file will be sent back to the court for the start of the trial.
These lawsuits stem from a complaint filed by parties claiming that “ the former municipal council of Bouznika modified, during the October 2014 session, the delegated management budget, considering the amount excessive. This budget had been reduced from 14 to 8 million dirhams. However, during the November 2015 session, it was noted that the amount approved for the previous financial year exceeded 14 million dirhams, the initial amount before the modification. The president of the council had justified this during the same session, as did the municipal accountant during the May 2016 session, by declaring that this change had been made by the supervisory authorities, represented by the prefecture of Benslimane« .
The investigating judge of the Casablanca Court of Appeal had ordered the provisional detention in the local prison of Ain Sebaâ (Oukacha) of Mohamed Karimine, nicknamed “ the emperor of Bouznika » and former parliamentarian, as well as Abdelaziz El Badraoui and a retired engineer.
