Morocco sentenced the French national in 2016 for his involvement in terrorism-related crimes.
Rabat – French authorities ordered the release of French national Thomas Gallay, whom Morocco sentenced in 2016 for his involvement in terrorism-related crimes.
Maghreb Arab Press (MAP) announced that the French national was released on Thursday with an ankle monitor.
The Moroccan Court of Appeals in Rabat convicted Gallay of financing terrorism. The courtsentenced the suspect to six years in prison in 2016. The court, however, decided to reduce the sentence to four years.
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Moroccan police decided to hand over the French suspect in October 2018 after a direct request made by French President Emmanuel Macron to transfer Gallay to his country to complete his prison sentence.
Beatrice Gallay, Gallay’s mother, called on Macron to bring her son home to France. Gallay’s mother stood daily in front of Macron’s presidential residence, holding a banner reading “Help Thomas” until she caught the president’s attention.
In response, Macron promised to intervene and try to repatriate him.
Morocco approved the request after fulfilling all legal conditions, in accordance with Morocco’s law governing judicial cooperation with foreign countries.
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The agreement was in line with a judicial convention concluded between the two countries.
Moroccan law enforcement arrested the 37-year-old in the Moroccan coastal city of Essaouira. He was arrested for his alleged connection to a terror group of nine suspects, who were planning to commit crimes to undermine public safety.
