Taxi drivers accused of assaulting a Russian citizen while he was using a ride-hailing appappeared before an investigative judge at the Court of Appeals in Casablanca on Wednesday.
The hearing drew a significant presence of taxi union representatives, who gathered outside the courthouse in solidarity with their detained colleague, currently held at Oukacha Prison in Casablanca.
Two of the accused drivers, currently in custody, provided their testimony, firmly denying any wrongdoing. Mustafa Elkhihel, a member of the Taxi Union Coordination, asserted that his colleague was innocent, clarifying that no assault occurred against the Russian passenger.
Elkhihel also dismissed claims that the Russian citizen was a diplomat or official, emphasizing that taxi drivers’ grievances are not with passengers but with the competition posed by ride-hailing apps.
A letter from the Russian Consulate General in Casablanca, obtained by Hespress AR, confirmed that the alleged victim was not a diplomat but had traveled to Morocco for business purposes. The document also stated that the individual had not requested any legal assistance from the Russian Embassy in Rabat or the consulate in Casablanca.
Regarding the possibility of withdrawing the complaint, the consulate clarified that it had no authority in the matter, as such decisions are strictly personal and legal.
The incident, which involved a physical altercation between taxi drivers and a ride-hailing driver transporting the Russian citizen and his wife, led to multiple arrests. A judge recently ordered the detention of one taxi driver, while three others were released pending trial.
The case underscores ongoing tensions between traditional taxi operators and ride-hailing services, with unions pushing for stricter regulations on app-based transport providers.
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