Frenchman and 2 codefendants get life sentence in connection with terrorist attacks

The court of appeal of Rabat sentenced on Thursday evening to life imprisonment French national, Pierre Robert, alias "Lhaj" alias "Abou Abderrahmane" and two other codefendants, Hassan Kheddaoui and Khalid Chaoui.

Pierre Robert was sued along with a group of 33 people in connection with the terrorist attacks that hit the Moroccan economic capital last May 16, killing 45 dead, including 12 suicide bombers. He had claimed ties with the French intelligence, which French authorities rushed to deny.

The court handed down a thirty-year imprisonment term for one person and twenty years imprisonment to six others, including one who was also ordered to pay a fine of 500,000 DHs (around US$ 50,000).

The court also sentenced five members of the group to 15 years, ten to 10 years, four to two years, and two others to three months and a fine of 2,400 Dhs (US $240).

A defendant was sentenced to pay a fine of 5,000 Dhs (US $ 500) and was cleared of charges while another one was acquitted.

The group was prosecuted for criminal association, inciting to criminal acts, complicity in undermining the interior security of the state, aggression to cause destruction, murder and intention to assault institutions of the state.

They were also sued for complicity in murder and aggression that led to permanent disability, complicity in theft, swindle, use of fake administrative documents, constitution of a criminal gang to prepare for terrorist acts, theft, making and possession of weapons and explosives, complicity in collecting and managing funds to perpetrate terrorist acts and set up armed groups.