A hearing at the Berrechid First Instance Criminal Court was marked by legal tensions and heated exchanges on Monday, as the case of a man accused of injuring young girl Ghita with his vehicle on Sidi Rahal beach unfolded.
The court session, held in the early afternoon, witnessed confrontations between the defense team representing the detained suspect and lawyers appearing on behalf of the civil party, notably from the child protection NGO Matqisch Weldi (Don’t Touch My Child).
The clash erupted after the association announced its decision to act as a civil party in the case, arguing that the incident should be considered a criminal offense rather than a traffic accident. Defense lawyers for the accused challenged the NGO’s legal standing in court, asserting that Matqisch Weldi had not provided evidence of its public interest status, a prerequisite for civil party status under Moroccan criminal procedure law.
According to Article 7 of the Moroccan Code of Criminal Procedure, associations must have public interest status and have been legally established for at least four years before the offense in question to participate in criminal proceedings concerning matters related to their stated mission.
The verbal confrontation led the presiding judge to temporarily suspend the session in an attempt to restore order after sharp exchanges disrupted proceedings.
Matqich Waldi’s legal team defended its participation, stating that its involvement was based on a commitment to defending children’s rights and supporting the young girl, identified as Ghita, who remains in a serious condition following the incident.
Lawyers representing the association further argued that the gravity of the event and circumstances surrounding the child’s injuries elevate the matter beyond a standard traffic accident, warranting more serious legal scrutiny.
In response, the suspect’s defense team pushed back strongly, describing the case as a road traffic incident, and filed a motion for provisional release, citing their client’s role as a company director and the financial consequences for employees who had not received their salaries during his detention.
The court ultimately denied the request for release after deliberation and ordered that the next session be held on July 14, 2025. The court also instructed that the vehicle’s insurance providers and those responsible for the jet ski involved in the incident be summoned. Additionally, the court tasked the victim’s legal team with submitting an updated medical report on the girl’s condition.
The case has attracted public attention due to the severity of the child’s injuries and ongoing debate about the legal classification of the incident.
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