The case involving the mayor of Tangier, Monir El Lmouri, has reached a critical judicial stage. El Lmouri, who is also the head of the Tangier city council and the regional coordinator for the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), was taken into custody on September 28 after returning to Morocco from Spain. He was detained at Ibn Battouta airport and transferred to the judicial police for questioning.
The case originated from the legislative elections on September 23, 2026, when a person was caught near a polling station in Tangier carrying a bag containing electoral documents. An investigation was launched, and five suspects were arrested, including the president and vice-presidents of two polling stations and another individual. The investigation revealed that some of the suspects had tampered with the electoral documents.
The initial investigation found that one of the vice-presidents of a polling station had taken a set of voting papers with the help of the station's president, placing them in a bag and removing them from the school. The papers were later returned to the polling stations in coordination with others. It was also discovered that the ink used on the seized papers differed from the ink used in the polling stations.
The Public Prosecutor requested that the investigating judge conduct an investigation into the case, with the suspects being held in custody. The prosecutor emphasized the need to uncover all those involved, regardless of their position or status. El Lmouri's name appeared in the investigation records, and a search warrant was issued for him after he left Morocco for Spain.
El Lmouri denied any attempt to flee, stating that his trip was for professional and personal reasons and that he would return to face the relevant authorities. After his return, he was questioned by investigators for several hours, during which he was confronted with statements from other suspects and phone records from the day of the election.
The prosecutor ordered El Lmouri to be held in custody for 48 hours, which was later extended by 24 hours. After the expiry of this period on September 30, the case was presented to the prosecutor to decide whether to continue with El Lmouri in custody or on bail, or to refer him to an investigating judge.
The investigation has been expanded to include additional individuals, including a general guard at an educational institution and a manager of hotel units. The developments come in a sensitive political context after the PAM topped the legislative election results. The party has stated that it is ready to assume organizational and political responsibilities if the investigations prove the involvement of any of its members.
Key points
- The case involves allegations of electoral fraud during the legislative elections in Tangier.
- The mayor of Tangier, Monir El Lmouri, has been taken into custody and appeared before the prosecutor.
- The investigation has been expanded to include additional suspects and to uncover all those involved in the alleged electoral fraud.
