Appellate Court Imposes Stricter Penalties in Academic Corruption Case in Marrakech and Agadir
In a decisive ruling that underscores the Kingdom's unwavering commitment to upholding the integrity of its higher education system, the Criminal Chamber of the Marrakech Court of Appeal has handed down severe prison sentences in the high-profile university diploma trafficking scandal. The appellate court significantly escalated the prison term for Ahmed Quilch, a former law professor at Ibn Zohr University in Agadir, raising his sentence from four to seven years of firm imprisonment. Furthermore, the court ordered the permanent confiscation of a prime real estate property registered under his wife's name for the benefit of the Moroccan state.
This landmark judicial development, which has sent shockwaves through academic and legal circles across Morocco, addresses deep-seated irregularities involving the manipulation of master's degree enrollments and the illicit sale of prestigious higher education credentials. According to judicial proceedings initially brought to light by investigations from the National Brigade of Judicial Police (BNPJ), the criminal network allegedly charged exorbitant sums—reaching up to 250,000 dirhams per diploma—enabling individuals to acquire master's degrees without ever attending classes or sitting for official examinations.
Comprehensive Rulings Against Accomplices and Legal Professionals
The appellate bench delivered rulings extending far beyond the primary defendant, targeting a web of accomplices including legal professionals and administrative officials. The court overturned a previous acquittal for defendant Hafid Boufous, sentencing him to two years in prison alongside a 20,000-dirham fine. Meanwhile, the court upheld a four-year prison term for El Hassan Boukili and a two-year sentence for Quilch’s wife, a trainee lawyer registered with the Agadir Bar Association.
Additional penalties included the reaffirmation of a one-year prison sentence for trainee lawyer Hamza Zghnoun, while the prison term for his father, Mohamed Zghnoun—a chief court clerk stationed in Safi—was doubled from one year to two years. In terms of civil damages, the court ordered the defendants to jointly pay 1.5 million dirhams in compensation to the Moroccan State, represented by the Judicial Agent of the Kingdom, alongside the definitive forfeiture of the seized real estate assets.
Strengthening Institutional Integrity and Anti-Corruption Efforts in Morocco
The origins of this sprawling corruption case date back to investigations launched in May 2025, when examining magistrates at the Marrakech Court of Appeal ordered the apprehension of Professor Quilch. Subsequent probes by national security forces exposed systematic abuses of authority, bribery, and active connivance within academic administrative channels.
Legal analysts in Morocco have hailed the final appellate verdict as a resounding victory for the rule of law. By clamping down decisively on academic fraud and ensuring that public office and educational prestige are not exploited for illicit enrichment, Moroccan judicial institutions continue to reinforce transparency, accountability, and meritocracy across the nation's public sector.
As reported by ar.le360.ma.
