Rabat - Complainants in the Taoufik Bouachrine case allegedly suffered “threats and pressure,” Public Prosecutor of Casablanca’s Court of Appeal Najim Bensami told Agence France Press (AFP) on Friday.
Rabat – Complainants in the Taoufik Bouachrine case allegedly suffered “threats and pressure,” Public Prosecutor of Casablanca’s Court of Appeal Najim Bensami told Agence France Press (AFP) on Friday.
Bouachrine, who was arrested on February 23, is facing charges of sexual harassment, gendered violence, and rape. Police said that they have 50 videos backing the charges facing the prominent journalist. The police have further hinted that the said videos were recorded by Bouachrine himself.
The public prosecutor said that the court has information that “confirms that the complainants are under pressure and threats from the ‘entourage’ of Bouachrine.”
Bensami further said that the alleged victims were offered a financial arrangement to withdraw their complaints.
“It is our duty to protect them from the moment they appeared in the seized videos,” said the public prosecutor, adding that the court considers the complainants victims of the crime, “even if they do not file complaints.”
During his trials, Bouachrine’s lawyers made the case for their client’s innocence, claiming the video evidence the police claims to possess has been “falsified.”
“If the defense considers that the procedures were not respected, it has only to request the cancellation of the recording minutes to the court,” said the public prosecutor.
He added that charges against Bouachrine are based on videos seized by police during his arrest.
On Thursday, Bouachrine’s fourth trial saw tensions escalate between his defense team and the court, with his lawyers emphasizing that documents and videos were “falsified.” The alleged suspect will appear before the court again on Wednesday, April 11.
