Mounir Laymouri, the mayor of Tangier, was arrested on Monday morning at Ibn Battouta airport as he returned from a trip to Malaga, Spain. The arrest was made in accordance with a national search warrant issued as part of an investigation into electoral documents found on the day of the legislative elections. Laymouri, who is also the director of his party's campaign in the Tangier-Assilah constituency, was taken to the city's judicial police headquarters.
The investigation began after a bag containing electoral documents was discovered at Al Qods school in the Casabarata neighborhood on September 23, the day of the legislative elections. According to the public prosecutor's office, the vice-president of a polling station removed ballots with the help of the station's president, hid them in the bag, and then attempted to reintroduce them into two other polling stations with the assistance of accomplices. The documents were found to have been marked with ink different from that used in the polling stations.
Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the irregularities, including two polling station presidents, their two deputies, and a fifth person. Four of the suspects were presented to the public prosecutor, while the fifth remained in custody. The prosecutor's office has requested that an investigation be opened into allegations of interference with the voting process, falsification, and participation in these acts. Laymouri's name was mentioned during the hearings.
Before his arrest, Laymouri had announced his return to Morocco, stating that he had no connection to the case and had not fled the country. He claimed that his trip to Spain was for professional purposes. However, authorities had issued a national search warrant after being unable to find him at his residence, as investigators sought to question him and arrange a confrontation with one of the suspects already arrested.
The Authenticity and Modernity Party, which won the legislative elections, has denounced what it calls a "malicious campaign" and a "political plot," while expressing support for the judicial process to establish the facts. The Interior Ministry has also launched an administrative investigation into the irregularities reported in Tangier. At this stage, no court has ruled on the merits of the case, and the individuals involved are presumed innocent.
The case has raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in Morocco. The authorities have assured that they will investigate the allegations thoroughly and take appropriate action. The arrest of the mayor of Tangier has sparked interest in the case, with many awaiting the outcome of the investigation and the court's decision.
The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as the case unfolds. The authorities have confirmed that they will ensure a fair and transparent process, and the public is eagerly awaiting the outcome.
Key points
- The mayor of Tangier was arrested on his return from Spain amid an investigation into electoral irregularities.
- Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, including two polling station presidents and their deputies.
- The Authenticity and Modernity Party has denounced a "malicious campaign" and a "political plot" against the mayor.
