A Moroccan court in Rabat has handed down a heavy sentence in a case that has deeply shocked the local sporting and transport communities. The first-instance criminal chamber of the Rabat Court of Appeal sentenced former national athlete Azzedine Seddiki to ten years behind bars following a violent confrontation that resulted in the tragic death of a local taxi driver.
The Altercation and Investigation in Rabat
The fatal incident unfolded when a group of taxi drivers confronted and surrounded Seddiki while he was transporting a passenger in his personal vehicle using the ride-sharing application inDrive. What began as a heated dispute quickly deteriorated into a physical altercation. During the struggle, one of the taxi drivers fell and sustained severe head trauma after hitting the pavement. Despite medical interventions, the victim succumbed to a cerebral hemorrhage shortly afterward.
Law enforcement authorities in Morocco's capital swiftly intervened. Police arrested the former sports star the day following the tragedy, placing him under formal custody supervised by the public prosecutor's office. Investigators conducted a thorough inquiry, which included reviewing nearby surveillance camera footage, interviewing multiple eyewitnesses, and analyzing comprehensive autopsy findings to determine the exact cause of death and legal responsibility.
From Sporting Glory to Legal Tragedy
The verdict has drawn widespread attention across Morocco, largely due to Seddiki's prominent background as a celebrated athlete. During the 1990s, Seddiki was a formidable force on the international track and field circuit, specializing in the 1,500-meter event. He achieved remarkable milestones for Moroccan athletics, securing the gold medal at the 1994 Francophone Games in Paris and subsequently clinching top honors at the 1995 World Military Games in Rome, where he recorded his personal best time.
The tragic case has also reignited intense public discussions regarding the regulation of app-based transport services in Morocco and ongoing tensions between traditional transport professionals and independent ride-sharing operators.
As reported by yabiladi.com.
