The Administrative Court of First Instance in Fez has made a ruling in favor of a catering company, led by Mohamed Wali Al-Alami, in a dispute with the Wali of the Fez-Meknes region. The court ordered the state to pay the company a total of 7,286,400 dirhams and 1,184,150 dirhams in compensation for services provided during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company had provided meals to security personnel, auxiliary forces, and healthcare workers during the pandemic.
According to sources, the catering company, Afrrah Al-Alami, had signed a contract with the Wali of the Fez-Meknes region to provide meals to those on the frontlines of the pandemic. The company claimed that it had provided services worth over 13 million dirhams, but the state had only paid a fraction of the amount. The company's lawyer stated that the state had acknowledged the debt during a meeting on February 19, 2024, but had failed to make the payment.
The dispute centered around the prices of meals, which the company had agreed to reduce to 45 dirhams per meal. However, the state had failed to pay the agreed-upon amount, leading the company to take the matter to court. The court's ruling is seen as a significant victory for the company, which had been seeking compensation for its services.
The case is part of a larger investigation into financial irregularities during the pandemic. Several high-ranking officials, including Abd al-Aziz Jasour, head of the budget and contracts department at the Wali of the Fez-Meknes region, have been charged with corruption and embezzlement. The officials were accused of inflating contracts and embezzling funds meant for COVID-19 relief efforts.
In a related case, the Fez Court of Appeals had previously sentenced Jasour to five years in prison and a fine of 100,000 dirhams for his role in the corruption scheme. Two other defendants, Khalid al-Bushbti and Hadi Baaw, were also sentenced to prison terms and fines for their involvement in the scheme.
The court's ruling in favor of the catering company is seen as a significant step towards resolving the financial disputes related to the pandemic. The state has been ordered to pay the company over 8.47 million dirhams in compensation, a significant sum that will help the company recover from the financial losses it incurred during the pandemic.
The case highlights the challenges faced by companies providing essential services during the pandemic. The catering company's victory is seen as a positive development for the business community, which has been severely impacted by the pandemic. The ruling also underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in government contracts.
Key points
- The Moroccan court has ruled in favor of a catering company, ordering the state to pay over 8.47 million dirhams in compensation for services rendered during the COVID-19 pandemic.
