A scandal of sexual assault against a minor at a classified hotel in Kenitra reveals a network of prostitution and alcohol, leading to court proceedings.
The Kenitra Court of First Instance postponed today, Friday, the first session of one of the most controversial moral cases in the region, involving the hotel owner and three other individuals, including a bar manager and an employee at the hotel. They face charges related to the sexual assault of a minor, the establishment of a prostitution den, and providing alcohol to a minor within a licensed tourist space.
The details of the case date back to recent days when a loud altercation erupted outside a three-star hotel on the outskirts of Kenitra between a minor girl and one of the customers over a previously agreed payment for a lewd night in one of the rooms. The girl’s screams at the hotel entrance caught the attention of passersby, prompting law enforcement to intervene and launch an immediate investigation that uncovered shocking information, including that the girl was with her boyfriend and had consumed alcohol twice—once at a bar in the city center and the second time at the hotel where the incident occurred.
Investigations conducted by the morals squad, after the file was referred by general intelligence, revealed that the bar had not complied with laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors and Muslim Moroccans, resulting in the manager being charged with illegally selling alcohol and enabling a minor to consume it. The hotel owner faces serious accusations, including a habitual acceptance of prostitution within a public establishment and exploitation of the premises for immoral practices.
The defendants in the case comprise both detainees and those released on bail. The hotel owner was released on a financial guarantee of 100,000 dirhams, while the employee remains in custody for renting a room without verifying the customer’s legal status. As for the minor’s companion, he stated during the investigation that he was unaware of her real age, claiming she misled him into believing she was of legal age.
The postponement of the trial comes amid significant public interest locally and nationally, especially given increasing concerns over some hotels turning into fronts for promoting moral corruption and exploiting minors under the guise of licensed tourist activities. Serious questions are being raised regarding the effectiveness of monitoring tourist spaces and their compliance with regulatory laws as attention turns to the upcoming sessions, which are expected to unveil further details about this sensitive file.
