Court Delays Turbo's Trial in Murder of Rim Fikri's Husband
Rabat – The criminal chamber of the Casablanca Court of Appeal has postponed until June 9 the appeal trial of Reda Abakrim, known as 'Turbo,' a suspected drug baron accused of multiple kidnappings and murders, including that of the husband of Moroccan singer Rim Fikri.
The delay comes as the court seeks to hear again from Rim Fikri, a civil party in the case, and due to the absence of a defense lawyer for the main defendant. Abakrim informed the court he has not yet appointed legal representation.
This highly publicized case has taken many turns since Abakrim's arrest in connection with the alleged murder of Fikri's husband. Although initially acquitted in a lower court ruling on April 18, 2023, new evidence has prompted authorities to retry him, compelling his presence in court from his current detention.
In addition to Abakrim, several other defendants, Saïd A., Mohammed J., Abbas M., Hassan M., and Zakaria D., are also being prosecuted for charges including kidnapping, unlawful detention, torture, and premeditated murder.
Reda Abakrim is simultaneously facing another trial related to the 2007 murder of Brahim Hajaji in La Coudraie, Poissy (France). He had previously been convicted in absentia by a French court in June 2020 and sentenced to 21 years in prison for drug-related homicide.
Despite being acquitted in Morocco on similar charges, his arrest in December 2020 at Casablanca Airport reopened the door for both Moroccan and French judicial actions. He was first apprehended for using a false passport, but authorities quickly discovered he was the subject of an international arrest warrant.
According to civil party lawyer Mohamed Aghanaj, Abakrim narrowly escaped arrest in Dubai before being captured in Morocco. Aghanaj, who represents the family of the victim, expressed surprise at Abakrim's initial acquittal, noting that the accused holds Moroccan nationality, making him prosecutable under Moroccan law.
Who Is 'Turbo'?
Now 41, Reda Abakrim earned the nickname 'Turbo' for his role in organizing 'go fast' drug convoys, high-speed vehicles used to smuggle cannabis from Morocco to France. He is regarded by French and Moroccan authorities as one of the most prominent figures in the drug trafficking world.
The trial's next session is expected to shed more light on both the circumstances surrounding the murder of Rim Fikri's husband and Abakrim's broader criminal network. Tags: drug baron turboRim fikriturbo
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