King Mohammed VI Names Hicham Balaoui as New Public Prosecution Head
Doha – King Mohammed VI named today Hicham Balaoui as Prosecutor General at the Court of Cassation and President of the Public Prosecution Office, according to a Royal Cabinet statement.
The appointment comes as former prosecutor El Hassan Daki steps down from his position due to health reasons.
The Royal Cabinet commended Daki for fulfilling his duties with 'probity, devotion, integrity, and impartiality' during his tenure, noting his commitment to judicial independence, rule of law, and protection of individual and collective rights and freedoms.
During a ceremony at the Royal Palace in Rabat, the monarch received three new members of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary.
They included Balaoui, Hassan Tariq who joins as a member in his capacity as Kingdom Ombudsman, and Farid El Bacha who was selected by the King as a council member.
The three officials took their oath before King Mohammed VI during the ceremony, which was attended by Mohamed Abdennabaoui, Deputy President of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary.
The Supreme Council of the Judiciary, chaired by the King, ensures the implementation of guarantees granted to magistrates regarding their independence, appointment, promotion, retirement, and discipline.
The council produces reports on the state of justice and the judicial system and presents appropriate recommendations. It also provides detailed opinions on justice-related matters at the request of the King, government, or parliament, while respecting the separation of powers.
According to Article 115 of the Constitution, the Supreme Council of the Judiciary consists of the First President of the Court of Cassation as Deputy President, the Prosecutor General at the Court of Cassation, and the President of the First Chamber of the Court of Cassation.
It also includes four elected representatives of the Courts of Appeal magistrates and six elected representatives of first-instance courts magistrates.
The council also includes the Kingdom Ombudsman, the President of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), and five personalities chosen by the King who are recognized for their competence, impartiality, integrity, and distinguished contribution to judicial independence and rule of law.
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