Rabat – Morocco’s security services arrested on Wednesday a 24 year-old man for his alleged involvement in the sexual assault and violent robbery of an elderly woman in Casablanca.
The General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) said that the arrest was in coordination with the General Directorate of National Territorial Surveillance (DGST) services, stressing that the suspect has a criminal record related to drug and theft cases.
Police are investigating the suspect’s involvement in sexually assaulting the elderly woman inside her home. The charges he is facing also include the theft of the elderly woman’s personal belongings, including jewelry.
Preliminary investigations enabled police to identify the suspect, who was arrested in possession of a sum of money which is possibly from the sale of the items he stole during the crime.
Police also apprehended jewelry merchants found in possession of several stolen pieces of jewelry. The three arrested people are facing charges of being involved in acquiring and concealing stolen goods.
Police put all suspects, including the main suspect in custody pending more investigation to uncover all circumstances and details of the case.
Morocco’s penal code punishes anyone involved in rape to 5 to 10 years in prison. If the victim is a minor, the law stipulates an imprisonment of 10 to 20 years.
Moroccan courts also implemented law 103-13 on gender-based discrimination in September 2018. The law gives women the ability to file complaints about sexual harassment.
Under the law, prison sentences ranging between one to six months can be handed for anyone involved in sexually harassing people in public spaces, by use of words, acts or signals of a sexual nature for sexual purposes.
The harassers will also be fined from MAD 2,000 to MAD 10,000.
