Rabat – Authorities in Meknes placed a senior police officer under custody on Monday after he was accused of extortion and demanding money in exchange for leniency in a criminal case.
The investigation, overseen by the public prosecutor, seeks to uncover the scope of the officer’s involvement.
The General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) confirmed that the officer was arrested in the act, following a complaint filed by a person who claimed he had attempted to blackmail them.
Judicial police have begun questioning the officer to establish the details and motives behind the alleged crime. Officials stressed that the inquiry will continue until all circumstances are clarified.
On the administrative side, the DGSN announced that the officer has been suspended from duty while the case proceeds.
The suspension, the directorate said, is a preliminary measure before deciding on disciplinary sanctions outlined in regulations for members of the National Security service.
Morocco slipped two places in Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), ranking 99th out of 180 countries with a score of 37 out of 100.
The new figures, published in February, reflect a slight decline from last year, when Morocco held a score of 38 and ranked 97th. The fall adds to a longer pattern of regression.
In 2018, Morocco recorded its best performance to date with a score of 43, placing 73rd worldwide. Over the past six years, however, the country has dropped 26 positions.
While official reports and reforms often underline Morocco’s efforts to strengthen transparency and governance, the CPI suggests that these measures have not yet translated into significant change on the ground.
Citizens continue to encounter corruption in various forms, from administrative hurdles to financial misconduct, leaving a gap between policy announcements and lived reality.
