Rapid developments in the trial of the “Pablo Escobar of the Sahara” as Nasri drops bombshells
The Casablanca Court of Appeal witnessed heated moments during the trial of those involved in the case of the “Pablo Escobar of the Sahara,” following statements made by Saïd Nasri, a former leader in the National Rally of Independents party, which included intriguing details and transformed into a new focal point in the case.
Nasri shocked the court by requesting the summons of artist Latifa Raafat to appear before the judiciary, pointing to what he described as “serious contradictions” in her previous statements to the police regarding her relationship with Haj Ben Ibrahim, nicknamed the “Pablo Escobar of the Sahara.”
During interrogation, Nasri categorically denied that the villa located in the California neighborhood of Casablanca had turned into a haven for cocaine use as Raafat claimed, emphasizing that she resided there following her divorce from Ben Ibrahim. He presented the court with a copy of the marriage contract signed in September 2014, despite both parties confirming that the divorce occurred months prior, raising questions about the timeline.
Nasri stated that he first met Raafat at the Zagora Festival in 2013, denying any prior relationship with her, and added that her marriage to “Escobar” took place in the presence of well-known figures, including the Ghizawi brothers.
Judge Ali Tartchi engaged in a direct argument with Nasri after the latter’s attempts to present what he called “missing facts.” The judge interrupted him repeatedly, delivering sharp warnings, stating, “Respect yourself, do not speak until I ask you to,” adding that the court alone has the right to manage the session.
Despite the warnings, Nasri continued speaking, prompting the judge to reiterate: “The court is not a student receiving lessons,” while an attorney attempted to calm the atmosphere, explaining that his client “is speaking passionately.”
The session revealed new threads that could alter the course of a case that receives widespread attention within Morocco, amid expectations of new names being summoned for confrontation, and further intersections between politics, art, and the world of organized crime.
