Drug lord Erramach gets 3 year-sentence in jail
Morocco, Local, 4/22/2004

The special court of justice condemned on Wednesday at dawn drug lord Mounir Erramach (businessman) and another co-accused, Mohammed El Ouazzani, to three years in prison and to pay a fine of 5,000 DHs (nearly US $500).

Several high-ranking officials are involved in the case of Erramach, including magistrates, police officers, clerks and businessmen. They faced charges of criminal association, power abuse, corruption, public funds embezzlement, international drug trafficking, non-denunciation, divulging professional secrets, premeditated homicide attempt and unlicensed possession of firearms.

The court sentenced Mohammed Sekkouri (former prefect of police in Tetuan), Mohamed Charafeddine (former chief of regional security in Tetuan) and Abdelkrim Zehouani (magistrate in the Tetuan court of appeal) to two years in jail and a fine of 1,000 Dhs (US $100) each for corruption and non-denunciation of a criminal.

Zehouani was also sentenced to pay 715,000 Dirhams to the customs.

Seven other defendants, found guilty for corruption charges, were sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of 1,000 Dhs (nearly US $100) each.

The court acquitted other people involved in this case.

Erramach, 29, and members of his group were arrested last summer after a dispute broke out between two rival gangs in the northern city of Tetouan.

Investigations revealed that Erramach had established dubious relations with senior officials in the region to facilitate his illegal activities.

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