Appeal for restitution of embezzled public money
Morocco, Politics, 3/25/2004

A Moroccan Non Governmental Organization (NGO) calling itself "Instance nationale de defense des biens publics" (National Instance for the Defense of Public Funds), has called for the creation of another organization called "National Instance for truth and restitution of embezzled Funds" to shed light on "all social and economic crimes" and inform the public opinion on the amount of the embezzled money.

The NGO members who were speaking at a news conference marking the National Day of protection of Public Funds, said they had sent a letter to the Prime Minister Driss Jettou on this issue.

They also called for bringing to justice all those responsible of having embezzled public funds.

The National Instance of Defense of Public Funds was set up in 2001 at the initiative of political, youth and law organizations as well as trade unions.

So far, the most known embezzlement-related cases, brought to justice, concern a former governor and a former president of the Casablanca urban Community, who are sued, along with 16 other individuals, for embezzlement and other charges.

A preliminary investigation unveiled that the community's funds were not used for the projects they were earmarked for.

Abdelaziz Laffoura, Abdelmoughit Slimani and 16 other people among whom an architect and an entrepreneur, appeared last month before the Rabat-based Special Court of Justice on charges of embezzlement, power abuse and forgery. Ten of them are held in custody, including Laffoura and Slimani.

They were prosecuted following a complaint by the Swiss entrepreneur Jean Victor against Abdelmoughit Slimani for financial irregularities in carrying out two housing projects in Casablanca and breach of procedures regulating public contracts.

It's the first time a former governor is brought to justice for embezzlement.

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