Over 10,000 Hearings Held Remotely Since Apr. 27 (Minister)

A total of 10,416 hearings were held remotely by the various courts of the Kingdom in the period from April 27 to November 13, 2020, Justice Minister Mohamed Ben Abdelkaber said Monday in Rabat.

Speaking at the House of Representatives (lower house), Ben Abdelkader explained that 181,861 cases were dealt with and 68,180 verdicts were handed down, while 206,412 detainees benefited from remote trials during the same period.

According to the minister, a total of 6,231 detainees have been released since the launch of this procedure, knowing that remote trials are held in a way that ensures the conditions of a fair trial as stipulated in the Code of Criminal Procedure and in accordance with the relevant international treaties.

Spaces dedicated to this procedure within the penal institution are equipped with the necessary equipment to facilitate the accused’s communication with the court without any pressure or constraint, he added.

Given the sensitivity of the information exchanged during the remote trial, the ministry of Justice uses its internal audiovisual system while giving priority to computer security, in compliance with the instructions of the Security Directorate of Information Systems of the National Defense Administration, the minister pointed out.

The official said his department has taken note of the comments made by the various partners, particularly regarding the poor quality of sound and video and the interruption of the broadcasting.

It is within this framework that the Ministry of Justice and the General Delegation for Prison Administration and Reintegration (DGAPR) signed in September a Memorandum of Understanding for the equipment and management of remote trial courtrooms in penitentiary institutions, he added, noting that the department is committed to providing the rooms with the necessary equipment and software as well as high-speed Internet access to ensure the smooth running of this operation.