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Rabat – Morocco’s Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi has announced filing a lawsuit against a law student who failed the Moroccan bar exam, for claiming that he passed the examination and that another candidate, who did not take the test, was given his spot.
Ouahbi made the statement on Tuesday in a press conference in the wake of the bar exam controversy. Earlier this month, many Moroccans expressed concerns of favoritism and nepotism over the results of the examination, which took place in late 2022.
The Moroccan minister claimed that said candidate registered twice for the examination, the first time using his correct Identity Card number, and the second time changing his ID number by one character.
Once the exam committee realized that the same candidate had registered twice, they blocked one of his applications and kept the second one, allowing him to sit the exam, Ouahbi claimed.
The minister disclosed the two candidates’ exam papers during the press conference, as well as the exam’s attendance register containing both their signatures. He argued that both candidates took the exam and one of them deservedly passed.
Ouahbi vowed that his ministry will “refer the matter to the Public Prosecution Office and let it take the decision it deems appropriate.”
Read also: Bar Examination: Morocco’s Human Rights League Calls for Investigations
He explained that the candidate is facing two charges, including using an incorrect ID number, which is considered forgery under Moroccan law. The second charge concerns statements the candidate made, in which he “attacked” employees of the Moroccan Justice Ministry.
The concerned candidate came forward earlier this month after the list of candidates who passed the bar exam surfaced on the internet, saying that the list featured his exam number under another candidate’s name.
This candidate was not the only one who voiced such criticism against the latest bar exam, as many candidates and law students questioned the authenticity of the bar exam’s results.
In addition, Ouahbi’s dismissive statements on the nepotism controversy only made matters worse, with many Moroccan social media users demanding that the minister step down from his position.
Others took to the streets to condemn and protest the results, and demanded authorities open an investigation into the matter.
