Seven people have been detained and another one placed under judicial surveillance, for their alleged involvement in 15 alcohol poisoning-induced deaths in Sidi Allal Tazi, 90 km north of Rabat, the King’s prosecutor at Kenitra’s Court of Appeal announced.
Investigations revealed that the victims had consumed a toxic alcoholic substance, which resulted in “the death of 15 individuals”. 79 victims received medical treatment and were discharged from hospital, while others are still undergoing treatment.
As of Thursday morning, “the overall number of victims has reached 221,” security sources confirmed.
Investigations yielded evidence indicating that “the suspects involved in this case procured this alcoholic substance from premises manufacturing ‘concentrated alcohol’ and subsequently delivered it to some dealers.”
“The dealers then sold it to numerous people at a social gathering. These individuals exhibited a variety of symptoms that eventually led to death,” the prosecutor stated.
The prosecution charged the eight suspects with the felony of intentionally providing substances harmful to public health resulting in death and physical disability.
After preliminary interrogation, the investigating judge ordered the detention of seven of them and placed the eighth person under judicial supervision until the completion of the investigation.