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Rabat – Mohammed Sajid, the former mayor of Casablanca, is under investigation by the National Judicial Police Brigade (BNPJ) for alleged financial mismanagement during his time in office, according to converging reports.
The investigation was reportedly prompted by reports from the Court of Audit that suggested financial irregularities in Casablanca’s administration, particularly the operations of the city’s slaughterhouses.
The reports highlighted discrepancies in the delegation of slaughterhouse management, which was initially handed over to a Turkish company that later withdrew. This transition was reportedly poorly managed, leaving financial and operational issues unsolved.
The Court of Audit also pointed out significant unexplained expenditures, such as over MAD 19 million in utility bills for the slaughterhouses between 2008 and 2011. These costs were reportedly improperly transferred to the city by the management firm, against contractual obligations.
While the BNPJ investigation is still in its early stages, it remains unclear if the focus will exclusively remain on the slaughterhouses or expand to other areas of the city’s administration.
The names of other officials and business leaders implicated in the investigation have not been disclosed.
The ongoing investigation adds Sajid’s name to a growing list of officials scrutinized for mismanagement of public funds. A series of similar investigations into municipal governance has taken place across Morocco, aiming to enhance transparency and accountability in public administration.
In April, high-level officials in the Fes-Meknes region were under investigation for mishandling public funds. The inquiry was initiated after complaints from a caterer who claimed they were owed over MAD 18 million for services provided during official celebrations and events.
In February, the Casablanca Court of Appeal sentenced officials Mohammed Karimine and Aziz El Badraoui to prison for their involvement in a case of public fund embezzlement.
Karimine was the president of the Bouznika commune before his dismissal, while El Badraoui was the former president of Raja football club as well as the president of Ozone, an environmental services agency.
