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Join on Telegram Rabat – A legal battle has ensued between EPC Morocco, an explosives manufacturer, and real estate company Iskane.
EPC Morocco accuses Iskane of the “abusive” and “sudden” destruction of its rented premises located in Bouskoura, on March 29, 2021.
In a press release issued on June 29, EPC Morocco claims a “provisional indemnity of MAD 10 million in damages,” with a “final estimation” of the true cost of damages to be determined. EPC’s preliminary findings indicate “an amount of MAD 67 million relating solely to equipment losses and theft.”
In accordance with the press release issued by the plaintiff, in addition to the proceedings pertaining to material damages, EPC Morocco filed a direct summons before the criminal court against Anas Sefrioui, Saad Sefrioui, Kenza Sefrioui, and Malik Sefrioui on June 8.
The Sefrioui family are accused of “dispossession of a real estate property with threat of violence, a break-in with the use of weapons, demolition of goods, destruction of all material components to the business, fraud, and theft”, reads the accusing statement.
EPC traces the timeline back “to the morning of March 29, 2021” when, “without prior notice, demolition machines crossed the gates of the site of EPC Morocco in Bouskoura and, without warning, began to destroy buildings housing equipment in the presence of 30 personnel members.”
“The bulldozers entered without any precautionary notice, to a site classified as sensitive and attacked occupied buildings, endangering human lives and destroying equipment as well as important legal and administrative documents,” says EPC.
The operation lasted 48 hours, according to the statement, which describes scenes of “looting” aimed at the equipment and material used by EPC during production, along with documents stored in administrative areas of the site.
Anas Sefrioui denied the allegations of EPC Morocco in a statement issued late Tuesday, June 29. Sefrioui said the allegations are “manipulation, media blackmail, and a dishonest attempt of disinformation orchestrated by EPC Morocco,” and expressed his astonishment at the accusations made against his family.
He clarifies that “contrary to the allegations of EPC Morocco, the demolition was carried out in accordance with the legal and regulatory procedures in place, and in the presence of competent authorities.”
He added that “EPC Morocco occupied part of the area in question without having the right to commercial use,” and that the site was not registered under their name in any form.
Sefrioui argued that due to this illegal exploitation, and as the legitimate owner of the disputed site, Iskane was within its legal rights to demolish the building.
The head of Iskane real estate also specified that the primary activity of EPC Morocco-production of explosives, posed a serious threat to the neighborhood residents who live on the property owned by Iskane.
Competent authorities informed EPC Morocco of the need to transfer its activity away from residential areas for safety reasons and gave it formal notice to leave the site. A decision to this effect was issued on September 17, 2014 and was followed by several enforcement measures from the court.
Several appeals and court challenges have since been filed by EPC Morocco, along with two memorandums of understanding signed with Iskane for the final release of the land back in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
Subsequently, EPC Morocco transferred its activity to the district of Machraa Ben Abbou in the province of Settat. The transfer was confirmed by competent authorities who noted the release of the site of Bouskoura, contrary to what EPC Morocco indicates.
A demolition permit dated March 5, 2021 was then issued to Iskane.
Iskane maintains that “all of these facts are supported by legal documents, authorizations, judgments, decisions and protocols of agreement.”
