Casablanca court hands out 10-year prison sentence against 5 members of extremist underground group

The court of appeal of Casablanca handed out on Wednesday 10-year prison sentences against five members of the underground extremist group "Salafia Jihadia" and acquitted one person standing trial in the same case.

The five persons were sued for setting a criminal gang, murder attempts, passport forgery and other charges.

The court, looking into another case of five members of the same group, also decided on the same day to adjourn the trial to Thursday in order to give the defense time to prepare its arguments.

In Kenitra (40 km north of Rabat), the appeal court also started hearing in the case of eight persons, in connection with the probe on the terrorist attacks that rocked Casablanca on May 16. Two other groups were also referred by the general prosecutor to the appeal court, in addition to members of four other cells.