A court in Tangier began detailed questioning Thursday of suspects in a case involving alleged manipulation of ballot papers during Morocco’s Sept. 23 legislative elections, with four detained suspects appearing before an investigating judge.
The case involves eight people, according to recent reports, including Tangier Mayor and Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) regional coordinator Mounir Limouri, who is being held in pretrial detention.
The four suspects questioned Thursday were the heads and deputy heads of two polling stations at Al-Quds School in Tangier’s Kasabarata district, according to Hespress sources. The two polling stations were at the center of the incident that triggered the investigation.
The investigating judge also conducted confrontations between the suspects as part of efforts to clarify the circumstances surrounding the case, the sources said.
Defense lawyers for the suspects requested a postponement to review the case file, with the exception of one defendant. The judge subsequently postponed detailed questioning of all those being prosecuted until next week, according to the same sources. Limouri is expected to appear before the judge during that session.
Limouri was previously charged with allegedly violating voting procedures with the aim of changing or attempting to change the election result, participating in the falsification of a public document, and bribery through an offer, promise or gift intended to obtain an act, according to Hespress. The charges were brought under Article 58 of Morocco’s organic law governing the House of Representatives and several provisions of the Criminal Code.
The investigating judge ordered Limouri held in pretrial detention after his initial questioning. He had spent about 72 hours in police custody after being arrested at Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport upon returning from Malaga, Spain, under a national arrest warrant linked to the case.
The investigation began on election day, Sept. 23, after a person was reportedly found carrying a bag containing ballot papers linked to a polling station at Al-Quds School. Authorities subsequently investigated how the papers had been removed from the polling station and how they came to be returned.
The investigation later extended to a hotel in Tangier, where Limouri was reportedly present with other people. Technical examinations included the recovery of deleted surveillance-camera footage, as well as analysis of phones, communications and seized items.
According to information cited by Hespress, investigators said the recovered footage and technical analysis linked two bags seen at the hotel to two bags seized as part of the case. They also identified communications between Limouri and other suspects before and during election day.
The allegations remain under judicial investigation, and the suspects have not been convicted.
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.