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The Ministry of Justice has launched an online platform dedicated to in absentia proceedings, aimed at publishing the names and lists of individuals wanted by the justice system in criminal cases where the accused are being prosecuted while at large. The initiative forms part of the implementation of the new provisions of Criminal Procedure Law No. 03.23, which came into effect in January 2026.
According to data available on the digital platform, integrated into the «Courts» portal, the number of individuals subject to in absentia proceedings has exceeded 625. All the cases relate to criminal trials and do not include misdemeanors. Authorities have urged those concerned to report immediately to any judicial or security authority to resolve their legal situations. They also called on anyone with information about the whereabouts of any of the wanted individuals to inform the competent authorities.
The charges listed against the suspects cover a wide range of offenses, including embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds, aggravated theft, forgery and the use of forged official documents, assault causing permanent disability, forming a criminal gang, obstructing public roads and disrupting traffic, and public drunkenness. The list also includes serious crimes such as kidnapping, rape, and the possession of explosive materials in violation of applicable laws.
Does it infringe on the presumption of innocence?
The platform publishes a range of personal data related to the individuals concerned, including national ID numbers, addresses, parents’ names, and the nature of the charges against them. Such information falls under personal data protected by Law No. 09.08 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data.
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This law grants oversight and regulatory powers to the National Commission for the Control of Personal Data Protection (CNDP), which is responsible for supervising the legality of personal data processing and ensuring compliance with the required legal safeguards.
The sensitivity of the data is heightened by the fact that it concerns individuals who are still undergoing judicial proceedings, where the presumption of innocence remains a fundamental constitutional principle that must be respected.
Yabiladi has learned that the new platform has not obtained prior authorization from the National Commission for the Control of Personal Data Protection. The commission’s president told Yabiladi that «the Commission is aware of the matter and is in contact with the entity that launched the platform» in order to issue a decision on the issue.
