Urban Transport Deal in Kenitra: Public Prosecutor in Rabat Receives Investigation Results in the Embezzlement of 1 Billion Dirhams
Reliable sources informed Express TV that the public prosecutor at the Appeals Court in Rabat, Abdelaziz Raji, has received the findings of the investigations and listening reports conducted by the regional judicial police regarding the urban transport deal in Kenitra, valued at approximately 300 million dirhams.
Sources indicated that local public opinion is eagerly awaiting the decision to be taken by the public prosecution in this case, which has sparked widespread controversy, especially after the Kenitra Municipality filed an official complaint against Mohamed Marabit, owner of “Fougale” urban transport, alleging embezzlement and misappropriation of 100 million dirhams in public support funds. The complaint also implicates R.B., the first deputy mayor in the former municipal council, in these financial violations.
The complaint detailed numerous irregularities in the implementation of the delegated management contract, including:
- Purchasing buses as separate parts to conceal the actual price, accompanied by inflated invoices.
- Embezzlement of 39 million dirhams allocated for purchasing 13 standby buses outside legal frameworks.
- Tax fraud by calculating VAT to raise bus prices, resulting in an estimated embezzlement of 22 million dirhams.
- Misuse of public support to secure bank loans through leasing systems, with supported buses mortgaged with public funds.
In response, Mohamed Marabit, the director of Fougale, denied all allegations, confirming his readiness to provide all documents and invoices to the public prosecution and judicial police. He clarified that the number of standby buses is 14 out of a total fleet of 138 buses, and that any previous errors were corrected with an official report during the tenure of the former council. He also emphasized that public support was not exploited for personal purposes and that he is willing to return any unlawful amounts.
It is expected that the coming days will reveal the final decision of the public prosecution in this case, which has become the center of significant media and community attention, given the allegations of financial corruption and violations surrounding this major public deal in Kenitra.
