The court in Ain Sebaâ, Casablanca, sentenced Youssef El Manzari, the brother of the late Hicham El Manzari, to five years in prison and a fine of 50,000 dirhams. He was part of a network led by Gerando involved in defamation and spreading false allegations that harm institutions, as well as impersonating a security officer.
The convicted individual appeared in several audio recordings released by Hicham Gerando, presenting himself as “Mohamed Al-Baqali,” falsely claiming to be a former officer in a Moroccan security agency. He falsely alleged that he participated in an “intelligence assassination” of Hicham El Manzari, attempting to add excitement and credibility to a fabricated scenario aimed at disrupting and discrediting state institutions.
Upon the revelation of the truth, it became clear that Youssef El Manzari was merely the victim’s brother, who willingly participated in this media charade led by Gerando, contributing to the blackmail of several personalities and institutions within Morocco by promoting false information in exchange for financial gains.
The ruling reflects the Moroccan judiciary’s trend towards tightening penalties for those who exploit sensitive issues to undermine public security or tarnish the state’s image, especially in light of the rise of digital extortion and impersonation crimes that threaten institutional trust.
