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Rabat – Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi announced plans for a DNA database to help law enforcement trace and identify criminals.
Still under development, the DNA record will track offenders involved in criminal cases related to rape and sexual harassment.
During a parliamentary session on Monday, Ouahbi explained that this project seeks to regulate the use of DNA evidence by defining the types of crimes subject to genetic profiling.
Authorities would not collect and store DNA data without judicial oversight.
The Justice Ministry has already opened discussions with the Royal Gendarmerie and the General Directorate of National Security to coordinate efforts on the database.
Ouahbi also spoke of contacting foreign judges with a view to possible collaboration. He promised to introduce a bill by the end of the year to formalize the legal framework governing DNA use in criminal investigations.
Beyond forensic evidence, the minister addressed challenges facing forensic medicine in Morocco.
He conceded a dire scarcity of forensic doctors and decried the meager remuneration they get, saying a specialist now receives just MAD 100 ($10) per autopsy.
It is for this reason that Ouahbi established a committee solely committed to training new forensic professionals to surpass this hurdle.
The minister further adds that 158 students have joined the specialized training to add to the country’s successes in its forensic activities.
This goes in tandem with Morocco’s criminal justice system, upgrading efforts toward efficiency and evidence-based investigations.
By setting up a DNA database and investing in forensic expertise, the government hopes to make a move towards effective law enforcement while also establishing a regulated and ethical framework for the use of genetic data.
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