Rabat court acquits Hicham Temsamani indicted under anti-terrorist law

The Rabat appellate court acquitted on Friday Hicham Temsamani indicted in the framework of the anti-terrorist law after he was arrested in June 2003 in Vitoria, in the Spanish Basque region.

The criminal chamber of the court acquitted Temsamni, who was brought to Moroccan justice after he was extradited from Spain in March 2004 part of the investigation on the Casablanca terrorist attacks of May 16, 2003, that left 45 people dead and several wounded.

Temsamani was indicted on the charges of "setting up a criminal band, participation in the plotting of terrorist acts, voluntary manslaughter and taking part in acts that caused permanent disability."

The criminal chamber also acquitted Driss Ammar, Toufik Abou Naqa, Driss Zhiri, Brahim Hemioui, Hamid El Hartoul, Said Dahani and Zouhir Qodsi, who were sued for "apology of acts constituting terrorist crime by means of publications sold in public and inciting to terrorist acts." The court condemned Youssef Bouyban to two years in prison for "setting up a criminal band to plot and perpetrate terrorist acts, non denunciation of a terrorist crime, acting in a non authorised association and holding public meeting without authorisation."