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By Hajare El Khaldi
Rabat – The widow of a diplomat, who died in mysterious conditions in an African country, has accused an official of the Social Work Association of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of sexual harassment.
Moroccan newspaper Assabah, in its March 23 edition, reported that the complaint has already been presented to the judicial police of Rabat. The accuser claims that the official in question sexually blackmailed her in return for the release of pensions to which she is entitled after her husband’s passing.
The article states that the public prosecutor ordered the judicial police to open a thorough investigation, after inquiring into the evidence following receiving a complaint in February.
According to the same source, the alleged harasser instructed security guards to prevent her from accessing his office and questioned the reasons behind the delay in processing her file.
Assabah added that the plaintiff wrote to the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to further her case.
The hearing took place in the absence of the accused official, although he has been summoned twice. The publication suggested he may be summoned by the public prosecutor by force.
The source also maintains that officials of the same ministry have attempted to pressure the complainant into abandoning her accusations.
Chapter 1-503 of the Moroccan Criminal Code states that whoever exploits the power conferred upon him by his functions to commit, threaten, or coerce others for sexual ends, shall be punished with one to two years imprisonment, and a fine of MAD 5,000-50,000.
