During a press conference in Casablanca, Deputy Public Prosecutor Jamal Lahrour stated that "the National Brigade of the Judicial Police (BNPJ) in Casablanca referred five individuals, including a minor girl aged nearly 15, to the prosecutor’s office on March 1, 2025. This followed a complaint filed by a woman who, along with her family, was a victim of defamation, threats, and extortion via instant messaging applications (WhatsApp)."

Following the complaint, the prosecution ordered a judicial investigation, which was assigned to the BNPJ, he said, adding that the investigation gathered material and technical evidence confirming the suspects’ involvement in criminal acts orchestrated by the main suspect, who remains at large abroad and has family ties to them.

The accused assisted the main suspect by providing Moroccan SIM cards and their PIN codes, which he used to create and install applications on social media platforms, notably the phone number used to threaten the complainant. Technical analysis of seized phones confirmed this connection.

Additionally, the accused urged the main suspect to highlight several ongoing court cases and received money transfers from defamation and extortion victims. They also assisted him in editing and publishing multiple videos circulated on social media, the deputy prosecutor underlined.

Regarding the minor, technical investigations by the BNPJ revealed that the number used to threaten the complainant had been installed on her phone. The plastic holder for the SIM card under investigation was found in her bedroom, along with five other SIM card holders.

During questioning in the presence of her legal guardian, the minor admitted to installing phone numbers on her device that were used by the main suspect to activate and create WhatsApp and social media accounts for extortion, defamation, threats, and other criminal acts.

To safeguard the minor’s best interests and in accordance with applicable legal provisions, the young girl was referred to the juvenile judge, who ordered her placement in a child protection center.

Following this, the public prosecutor's office decided to prosecute the five defendants for complicity in contempt of a constitutional body and an organized institution, the dissemination and publication of false allegations violating others’ privacy, defamation, and participation in issuing threats. Additionally, one of the defendants is being prosecuted for contempt of a lawyer in the exercise of his duties, Lahrour noted.

Given the gravity of the acts committed, all the accused have been placed in custody and brought before the court to stand trial in accordance with the law.

Lahrour emphasized that the defendants were afforded, at the time of their arrest and during their appearance before the Public Prosecutor’s Office, all procedural guarantees under the law, including the right to legal representation during questioning.

While informing the public of these developments, Lahrour stated that an additional group of individuals appeared before the prosecutor's office on Tuesday for their alleged involvement in defamation and extortion.

As a result, one suspect was prosecuted for insulting an organized body, disseminating and publishing false allegations, violating privacy, defamation, and participation in these offenses.

The complaint against the other suspects was dismissed, the deputy prosecutor noted, adding that the investigation remains ongoing to apprehend other individuals involved in the aforementioned criminal acts.