Moroccan Mayor Suspended Following Corruption Conviction
Hakim Afout, the mayor of Had Soualem, has been suspended from his duties due to a corruption conviction. The decision, made by Nourdine Aoubou, the governor of Berrechid province, comes after Afout exhausted all avenues of appeal against his sentence.
Afout, a member of the Istiqlal party, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and fined an undisclosed amount for his involvement in a corruption case known as the “17 Billion Dirham” scandal. The case involved the misappropriation of public funds and inciting false testimony.
This suspension follows a formal request from a group of Had Soualem council members who urged the governor to uphold the law and remove Afout from office in light of his conviction. The governor’s decision underscores the Moroccan government’s commitment to tackling corruption at all levels of government.
The regional authorities have opened the application process for the mayoral position, with a deadline set for Wednesday, September 11th. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in public office.
