Fake journalist in Beni Mellal sentenced to 2 years for defamation and impersonation
A taxi driver was sentenced on Thursday to two years in prison and fined 20,000 dirhams by the Criminal Chamber of the Beni Mellal Court of First Instance. According to Al Akhbar, he was prosecuted for impersonation, insulting officials, and spreading false allegations with the intent to defame, with repeat offenses.
Arrested in Fkih Ben Salah, he was brought before the prosecutor on February 20 while in custody and subsequently placed in pre-trial detention. Already convicted multiple times over the past year, he had used his Facebook page to publish unfounded accusations against officials, elected representatives, and community leaders, manipulating public opinion through platforms dedicated to slander and blackmail.
Several human rights organizations took legal action, particularly denouncing serious accusations he had made against the public prosecutor of Fkih Ben Salah. The accused falsely claimed to be a journalist by misusing credentials, prompting media professionals to welcome his arrest.
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