The Casablanca Court of Appeals has postponed the trial of Reda Abkarim, a Moroccan-French drug baron known as “Turbo,” accused of kidnapping and premeditated murder, including the killing of Moroccan artist Rim Fikri’s husband. The case was rescheduled for February 5 to allow for witness re-summoning.
The appeal case, following Abkarim’s initial acquittal, has faced significant delays, with multiple hearings postponed for various reasons.
Abkarim was previously acquitted of charges including kidnapping, illegal confinement, and premeditated murder. However, his recent arrest in connection with the killing of Fikri’s husband prompted the court to summon him from custody for the ongoing proceedings.
The defendant had been convicted in absentia by a French court in Versailles alongside two accomplices for the 2007 murder of Ibrahim Hajji, reportedly linked to a cannabis trade dispute.
Moroccan authorities reopened the case in 2022, charging Abkarim with kidnapping using a motor vehicle, illegal confinement, and premeditated murder, based on multiple pieces of evidence. These include testimony from a witness in France, his flight from France to Morocco, and his use of a false identity after the victim’s disappearance.
The trial continues to draw attention due to its high-profile nature and the serious allegations against Abkarim.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.