Appeal court reduces sentences in drug-lord case

The appeal court of Rabat reduced Monday the sentences of the main defendants in the case of the drug lord 'Jeblia' network that is sued for drug-trafficking, and acquitted other defendants.

The network was condemned to sentences ranging from 1 to 10 years. Policemen and gendarmes were involved in the case.

The ring leader, Fatiha Hammoud, nicknamed "Jeblia," was initially sentenced to 10 years in prison and to fines totalling more than MAD 12 million (nearly us$ 1.5 m). The appeal court reduced her prison sentence to 8 years and confirmed the order to seize of all her assets and bank accounts.

The sentence against the drug lord associate 'Eddab' was cut down from 8 to 6 years.

The 25 policemen and 7 gendarmes that were condemned to one year were acquitted after they were found not guilty of corruption charges.