Tangier court sentences man to three years for sexually assaulting ex-wife

The Court of Appeals in Tangier recently presided over a high-profile criminal case that has gripped the local community. The primary criminal chamber handed down a three-year prison sentence to a man in his forties, convicted of sexually assaulting his ex-wife. Additionally, he was ordered to pay 40,000 dirhams in civil compensation to the victim. The assault took place after he forcibly entered her home, committing the crime in front of their children, according to the newspaper «Assabah».

The court's verdict against the 42-year-old defendant was grounded in evidence gathered during preliminary investigations and the victim's sworn testimony. Throughout the trial, the court examined the case details, highlighting inconsistencies in the defendant's statements compared to investigation reports and the victim's account, which consistently corroborated the sequence of events.

During her testimony, the victim recounted how her ex-husband exploited his visit to see their children as an opportunity to violently enter her home. She described being sexually assaulted in the kitchen and noted the destruction of household items, which inflicted severe psychological trauma. The distress was compounded by the fact that these harrowing events unfolded in front of her minor children.

The defendant, however, maintained his innocence in court, denying all charges. He claimed his entry into his ex-wife's home was routine, aimed at visiting their children, and asserted that any interaction between them was consensual. He refuted any allegations of violence or coercion, suggesting that the complaint was motivated by financial gain.

Despite the defendant's claims, the public prosecutor underscored the gravity of the crimes, leaning on the evidence and findings from the preliminary investigation. The prosecutor emphasized that a prior marital relationship does not, under any circumstances, excuse sexual assault. The call was made for a punishment reflecting the severity of the acts, which inflicted considerable psychological harm on the victim and her children.