Moroccan Notary Disappears After Stealing MAD 30 Million From 45 Clients

Morocco’s police have issued a nationwide arrest warrant for a Marrakech notary who is said to have fled with MAD 30 million ($3 million) stolen from over 45 clients.

Rabat – Morocco’s police have issued a nationwide arrest warrant for a Marrakech notary who is said to have fled with MAD 30 million ($3 million) stolen from over 45 clients.

The victims filed complaints at the office of the public prosecutor in Marrakech’s court of first instances immediately after noticing the disappearance of the notary, according to several local news reports.

The clients’ complaints were then transferred to the police brigadier in charge of investigating financial crimes.

According to the clients, the public notary used his knowledge of legal procedures to mislead them and steal their money, the news reports indicate.

The public notary is said to have repeatedly postponed clients’ appointments before completely disappearing.

Police authorities have confirmed to the victims that the perpetrator has not left Morocco, and that investigations are ongoing to locate him.

23 of the victims reside in Marrakech while 13 reside abroad. Among the victims is a Moroccan who sold a villa to an Emirati national for MAD 6 million ($616,174). The notary is reported to have told the two parties that he should keep the money until the end of the legal procedures. However, long after the legal procedures were completed in November 2021, the seller did not receive his money.

Another victim recounts that she was in the process of selling an apartment worth MAD 475,000 ($48,780), but she only received MAD 300,000 ($30,808).