Rabat — The Marrakech Appeal Court reportedly ordered the arrest of a university professor in Agadir at the local Oudaya prison in Marrakech on Tuesday.
The order was issued following an investigation into the professor’s involvement in a master’s degree registration scandal.
The investigating judge overseeing financial crimes at the Marrakech court of appeals issued the detention order after allegations emerged that the professor was selling university diplomas and certificates for money.
The decision came following a thorough investigation into the case by the National Judicial Police Brigade.
In addition to the professor, several other suspects are reportedly involved and went before the King’s Attorney General at the same Court.
Reports indicate that the attorney then referred the case to the investigating judge of the Third Chamber responsible for financial crimes.
The scandal, which has shaken both academic and political circles, extends beyond just the university professor, as the case involves other suspects, including public officials.
Some of the suspects have been released pending trial, but under strict precautionary measures, including the confiscation of their passports and travel bans preventing them from leaving Moroccan territory.
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Local media also reported that the list of suspects involved in this case includes prominent lawyers, university officials’ children, and local elected representatives.
More revelations are expected as investigations are underway in order to identify other potential members of this network that essentially turned master’s degree programs into a marketplace.
Not the first of its kind
This is not the first time a similar university scandal in Morocco has made headlines.
The incident brings to the surface the “Sex for Grades” scandal from 2022. In this case, several Hassan I University professors were arrested in Settat, found guilty of sexually harassing female students in exchange for academic incentives.
The “Sex for Grades” scandals shook several universities and higher education institutions across Morocco. Students, NGOs, and the government took action against the problematic practice of unethically misusing power for personal gain.
