Morocco to abolish special court of justice

The Moroccan justice Minister on Wednesday announced that his country will abolish shortly the Special court of justice, a jurisdiction vested with exceptional powers.

A draft law related to the "suppression of the exceptional character" of this jurisdiction, is currently under way and will be tabled before parliament during its coming fall session, to start next October, Mohamed Bouzoubaa, told the press.

The Special Court of Justice, based in Rabat, is a jurisdiction of exception set up in 1972 to sanction certain crimes (concussion, corruption, trading of influence and public or private funds skimming) committed by civil servants or magistrates when the amount of money embezzled or misappropriated equals or is higher than 25,000 dirhams (nearly US$ 2,500).

According to the minister, the draft provides for the abolishing of the Special Court of Justice and the transfer of its files to five classified jurisdictions, namely criminal courts in Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakesh, Meknes and Fez.

These courts, which will examine financial crimes, will apply the normal procedure, the minister said.