A Tangier court has issued a ruling in the high-profile Al-Khair Group case, ordering the return of millions of dirhams to nearly 1,000 victims and imposing fines alongside jail sentences totaling 71 years, according to SNRT News.
The court’s decision lists 791 original victims, later expanded to nearly 1,000, who were lured into the scheme through a WhatsApp group. They were persuaded over several months to contribute funds under the pretense of participating in a legitimate investment or charity initiative.
Attorney Redouane Essaidawi, representing several victims, stated that the court-mandated the return of embezzled funds, along with additional compensation amounting to 10% of the stolen amounts.
Reimbursements will vary, with some victims receiving as little as MAD 10,000 (USD 1,000) and others recovering up to MAD 500,000 (USD 50,000).
The court found the defendants guilty of fraud, habitual solicitation of funds without authorization, embezzlement, and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals.
The group’s founder and manager were each sentenced to five years in prison, while others received sentences ranging from three months to four years.
Investigations revealed that the scheme had been operating since 2022, leveraging social media platforms to mislead participants.
Authorities reaffirmed that the defendants lacked required licenses and intentionally targeted financially vulnerable individuals.