In a significant legal development in Fez, Morocco, the General Prosecutor at the Court of Appeal has ordered the detention of an English teacher suspected of sexually assaulting a minor student in the Bulman province. The accused, who was recently hired and assigned to Omar Ibn Al-Khattab High School in the rural commune of Tendit, has been remanded to the Bourkaiz local prison to await his trial.
Accelerated Judicial Proceedings in Fez
The judicial authorities have taken a firm stance on this case by invoking Article 73 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. This legal provision allows the Public Prosecution to refer a defendant directly to the Criminal Chamber for trial without the need for a lengthy preparatory investigation, provided the case file is considered complete. Consequently, the teacher will appear before the Criminal Chamber of the Fez Court of Appeal, presided over by Judge Mohamed Ben Maachou, on November 16, to face serious criminal charges.
The charges against the educator include the corruption of a minor and sexual assault involving violence by a person in a position of authority, resulting in the loss of virginity. The swift action by the Fez judiciary underscores the commitment of the Moroccan legal system to protecting minors and ensuring that cases involving the integrity of students are handled with the utmost urgency and severity.
Background and Administrative Measures
The incident came to light earlier this week following a judicial inquiry launched by the Royal Gendarmerie. Preliminary investigations suggest that the teacher had allegedly established an intimate relationship with his 17-year-old student, often inviting her to his residence under the guise of future marriage proposals. The situation escalated after the student's mother discovered the nature of the relationship, which had been hidden from the girl’s father.
In parallel with the ongoing criminal proceedings, the Provincial Directorate of the Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports in Bulman has taken decisive administrative action. The Ministry has suspended the teacher's monthly salary pending the final verdict of the court. This measure is consistent with standard Moroccan administrative protocols, which prioritize the removal of individuals accused of grave misconduct from the educational ecosystem while judicial processes are underway. The community remains closely focused on the upcoming trial as the legal system in Fez seeks to uphold justice for the victim.
As reported by ar.le360.ma.
