The public prosecutor at the Court of Appeal in Kenitra ordered the pre-trial detention of five local council members on Sunday on charges of electoral manipulation and corruption during the election of the new president of Kenitra’s municipal council.
The local officials had been previously arrested and released, but have since been subject to an ongoing investigation into alleged bribery.
Among those arrested were Mohamed Talmoust of the Democratic Social Movement Party and Abdullah Mbirik of the Moroccan Union for Democracy Party. They have both been taken into custody at Kenitra’s local prison.
Three women, Najla Dahaji, Khayra Anahari, and Bouchra Bouhaddioui, representatives of the National Rally of Independents and the Progressive Socialist Party, were also arrested and taken into custody at Souk Arbaâ El Gharb.
The suspects face charges related to vote-buying, bribery, and complicity in these acts. Their trial is expected to take place in the coming days at the Court of Appeal in Kenitra.