Resolving problem of prisons overcrowding is top priority of Justice Ministry

The Justice Ministry has made the problem of prisons overcrowding a top priority, assured Moroccan Justice Minister, Mohamed Bouzoubaa, in an interview published Wednesday by the daily "Aujourd'hui le Maroc."

The minister said a number of measures has been taken to reduce overcrowding in penitentiary institutions, such as granting greater numbers of inmates royal amnesty in national and religious holidays.

The commission in charge of selecting the people that would benefit of royal pardon, he said, privileges the elderly, ailing persons, detainees serving long sentences, pregnant women and mothers in charge of their children inside prison, as well as young people who have learnt practical skills inside jail.

According to the minister, instructions were also given to public prosecutors' departments to use the option of temporary release on bail, in conformity with Article 53 of the penal code, which would help reduce the number of prisoners.

Bouzoubaâ underlined that in some cases prosecution might as well launch a reconciliation procedure as another way to solve disputes. However, he said, this procedure of reconciliation can only be applied to offences punishable by a two year and less prison term.

The ministry of Justice, he went on, has asked all courts to make the utmost effort to make the period of remand in custody as short as possible, noting that "it is out of question to put persons indefinitely on remand waiting for a judgement."

The minister also raised the decision of the Higher Council of Magistrature to take disciplinary measures against 14 magistrates, saying the judges "were dismissed or superannuated because of corruption cases that undermine their profession."

The Higher Council of Magistrature had said in a release that it has decided to dismiss two judges, suspend three and superannuate four others, underscoring that five magistrates have been cleared of charges.