The first degree criminal Chamber in charge of financial crimes attached to the said Court also ordered the defendant to pay back MAD 59 million to the Customs Directorate, as civil party in this case, added the same source.

It pointed out that the defendant was also ordered to pay damages set at MAD 5 million.

He was being prosecuted for embezzlement and breach of trust.

The investigation carried out into this case revealed that there was "sufficient evidence" on the embezzlement estimated at MAD 59 million and the breach of trust committed by the defendant.

Arrested by Interpol in a European city in July 2019, following an international wanted notice issued by the prefectural service of the Marrakech judicial police, the defendant was extradited last September and handed over to the services of the Marrakech prefecture of police who submitted him to the investigation before bringing him before the public prosecutor's office.