December 23, 2023. A thick file sits on the board table of Attijariwafa bank (AWB). The president, Mohamed Kettani, surrounded by his staff, received that day the half-brothers Sadreddine Benhima and Hassan Benabdelali, promoters of Casa Parc, an imposing real estate project in the southern suburbs of the economic capital that has been bogged down for around ten years. ‘years.
It is an understatement to say that the mid-standard apartment project launched in 2014 has suffered from difficulties. In 2019, The Desk had already revealed the delays and the vicissitudes experienced by the reservation holders. AWB supported its launch by granting credits, then agreed to extensions to get it out of the rut. But this rescue was going to be synonymous with a poisonous kiss, as it served to bring him to his knees rather than providing him with the means to achieve his goal.
During this last chance meeting, the words of the boss of the royal bank were conciliatory. He’s talking about a moment « charnière » for the continuation of the project. “ We need to understand what happened, we will help you,” he slips. “The bank is at your side to rectify the situation.” But if Kettani was willing to converse with the promoters of Casa Parc in an optimistic tone, it was above all to offer them a sort of due diligence mission, coupled with a new business plan but which will not be carried out by the bank, but concocted by a third party. “What do you think about Atlas Capital helping you find a solution? “, he says. The response was immediate from one of the two promoters who saw a solution to their matter: “Yes, no problem.” From then on, Hicham Chebihi was brought in, who was waiting in the antechamber of the meeting room, says a witness to the scene.
Morocco