The Rabat Court of Appeal sentenced on Saturday politician Mohamed Zian to five years in prison and imposed a MAD 5,000 ($500) fine in a prominent corruption case. Several of Zian’s associates were also found guilty of embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds.
Rachid Bouroua, who is currently in detention, received a similar sentence of five years in prison and a $500 fine. Miloud Chattat, who remains at large, was sentenced to two years in prison with one year suspended, along with a $500 fine.
The case originated from a complaint filed by the secretary-general of the Moroccan Liberal Party, accusing Zian of unlawful expenditure related to the party’s election campaign.
Investigations uncovered that Zian was involved in numerous financial crimes, including embezzlement of public funds and misappropriation of election support funds.
Financial reviews revealed significant corruption involving funds from the 2015 elections.
Zian was found to have ignored the Ministry of Interior’s demands to return over MAD 1 million ($101,657) in unused election funds between 2016 and 2018.
The investigation showed that Zian had used the Moroccan Liberal Party’s funds for personal gain, channeling money to himself and his family.
Large sums of money were transferred from the party’s budget to personal accounts of Zian’s children and his personal driver, according to a report from Hespress.
One son received approximately MAD 250,000 ($25,400) through a communication company with no evidence of services rendered, and another MAD 50,000 ($5,000) was transferred directly to his personal account.
In addition, another son received MAD 30,000 ($3,000) through a different communication company. A former party administrator also withdrew substantial cash amounts without proper documentation.
Furthermore, the deputy treasurer, who was detained alongside Zian, benefited from around MAD 700,000 ($71,100) through a personal printing company co-owned with Zian, with no evidence of the supposed prints.
Zian’s personal driver received MAD 50,000 ($5,000) into his account despite lacking any official role in the party.