Ouahbi reveals past deal between accused professor and ex-Minister of Justice
During a parliamentary session held on Tuesday to discuss Bill No. 03.23—which amends and supplements Law No. 22.01 on criminal procedure—Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi brought up a controversial case involving the scandal over the sale of master's degrees at Ibn Zohr University in Agadir.
Ouahbi revealed that the university professor accused in the case had previously signed a partnership agreement with a former Minister of Justice as part of an anti-corruption association. «The scandal that occurred at Agadir University—well, I have an agreement at the Ministry of Justice signed by the head of this association [referring to the accused professor] and a former Minister of Justice to combat corruption», Ouahbi told members of Parliament.
He added that he is willing to make the partnership agreement public.
The minister's remarks came as part of his defense of the bill's new provisions, which prohibit associations from filing complaints related to crimes involving public funds—a move that sparked considerable debate in Parliament.
Ouahbi also rejected amendments proposed by some parliamentarians to Articles 3 and 7 of the draft civil procedure law, which would allow civil society organizations to pursue corruption cases.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
23-05-2025
- Morocco World
Morocco's Anti-Corruption Body Takes Legal Action in Diploma Fraud Case
Rabat – Morocco's National Authority for Probity, Prevention, and the Fight Against Corruption has announced that it asked the State's Legal Representative to represent the state in a high-profile case surrounding selling fraudulent university degrees. The case involves a significant academic corruption scandal in Agadir, where a law professor at Ibn Zohr University is accused of selling university degrees. The professor allegedly manipulated official records to issue fake diplomas to individuals seeking employment opportunities. According to a statement released by the anti-corruption body, this step was taken under Article 36 of Law 46.19. The Authority asked the Legal Representative to file civil claims on behalf of the Moroccan state, while also reserving its right to take further action if necessary. The Legal Representative has accepted the request. The case involves serious allegations of corruption, including the creation of a criminal group that allegedly sold fake university diplomas. The charges include forgery of official documents, abuse of power, fraud, and misuse of public funds. The Authority said it learned about the issue through reports of suspicious activities that, if proven true, could be considered corruption crimes. It then began looking into the matter but later stepped back from the criminal part of the case as it is already being handled by the courts. This decision follows Article 7 of Law 46.19, which prevents the Authority from investigating cases that are in the hands of the judiciary. One university professor has been arrested and is currently in custody at Oudaïa prison, based on a decision by the investigating judge at the Marrakech Court of Appeal. Other suspects are being prosecuted while free, but their passports have been seized to prevent them from fleeing the country. The case has attracted widespread attention due to its implications for the credibility of Morocco's higher education system and the employment sector. Tags: Agadirdiploma fraudfake university diploma
Morocco World
23-05-2025
- Morocco World
Morocco Introduces Commission to Investigate Diploma Trafficking Scandal in Agadir
Rabat – The Ministry of Higher Education has announced a central inspection commission, dispatching it to the Ibn Zohr University in Agadir to investigate a diploma trafficking controversy that made headlines recently in the country. According to Moroccan news outlet Le360, the ministry deployed the commission on Wednesday to audit the entire process of diploma issuance. The new development came after converging reports indicated last week that the Marrakech Appeal Court had ordered the arrest of a university professor in Agadir. This came following an investigation into the professor's involvement in a master's degree trafficking scandal. According to reports, the arrest order came after allegations that the professor was selling university diplomas and certificates for money. Several other suspects are reportedly involved and were questioned about the case. Ahmed Kailech, also a law professor, is reported to have been at the heart of the case as he served as the coordinator of the master's program in Penal System and Security Governance. An individual who had been sentenced to five years in prison for purchasing his diploma uncovered the involvement of the professor. Investigators notably 'questioned the dean, several faculty members, and administrative staff… to uncover any irregularities in the recruitment and evaluation processes,' Le360 reported, noting that while the inquiry focuses on the law faculty, the commission has not ruled out expanding the probe into other departments within the university. Several previous reports have highlighted similar crimes. In 2017, a report by the newspaper Akhbar Al Yaoum quoted a draft report by the court of auditors as indicating that three Moroccan universities were linked to a diploma trafficking scheme in 2016 in the cities of Rabat, Tangier, Tetouan, and Settat.
Morocco World
22-05-2025
- Morocco World
Government Approves Decree Making Alternative Sentencing in Morocco a Reality
Rabat– The Government approved on Thursday the draft decree No. 2.25.386, which sets the framework for implementing alternative sentencing measures. The draft was presented by Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi during the weekly government council. This initiative is part of the enforcement of Law No. 43.22 on alternative penalties, aimed at strengthening the criminal justice system, improving sentencing mechanisms, reducing prison overcrowding, and promoting the reintegration of offenders into society. It adopts more humane approaches for less serious crimes, explained Government spokesperson and Minister Delegate for Parliamentary relations, Mustapha Baitas, during a press briefing following the Council meeting. The decree also seeks to implement provisions of Articles 1-647 and 13-647 of the Criminal Procedure Code. It outlines the organization of responsibilities for the penitentiary administration in monitoring the execution of alternative sentences at both central and local levels, and establishes the management procedures for electronic monitoring devices such as ankle bracelets, added Baitas. A key objective is to ensure coherence and optimal coordination among all involved parties to guarantee the effective application of these alternative sentences. Ouahbi characterized the law as a milestone in the nation's criminal justic e approach. Instead of depending exclusively on imprisonment, the law introduces penalties focused on rehabilitation rather than punishment. He emphasized that this change goes beyond legislation, requiring coordinated efforts throughout the entire judicial system. Separately, the Minister noted that the review of draft decree No. 2.23.152, which relates to the enforcement of Article 13 of Framework Law No. 97.13 on the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities, has been postponed to a future government meeting. Tags: Abdelatif Ouahbialternative punishmentsAlternative sentencing
