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At the Casablanca Court of First Instance, more than 81,375 recovery cases were handled in almost record periods and unbeknownst to debtors. Consumer rights activists have denounced the practices, unveiled by Yabiladi, as they involve companies, customers and NGOs.
Speaking, Thursday, to Yabiladi, Bouazza Kherrati from the Moroccan Federation of Consumer Rights confirmed that the organization «had received complaints from consumers who were affected by the same practices in the region of Marrakech». «The case is very complicated and that is why our federation had decided to mandate an expert to inquire on it», he reported.
«I believe that this is the scandal of the century in Morocco, from a legal point of view of course», he added, stressing that justice must «be seen as a service granted to citizens» as it is the case for other services guaranteed by «Law n° 31-08 on consumer protection».
«We are really surprised at the pace with which bailiffs delivered their summons. Do they have supernatural powers? But I will let the expert that we have mandated answer this question. We will of course comment on this through a press release as soon as we receive his conclusions».
To Kherrati, the recent revelations are an «opportunity to break with these practices so that justice meets the expectations of citizens».
A «serious» legal matter
For his part, Ouadie Madih, president of the consumer protection association Uniconso, and secretary general of the National Federation of Consumers' Associations in Morocco (FNAC), also declared having been approached by the victims. «We received an anonymous call and then an email two weeks ago and we then launched an investigation», he said, noting that his NGO «handed all the items over to [its] legal experts» and then seized FNAC.
«Indeed, it turned out that there is a serious problem. Consumers find themselves in a delicate situation after they discover they have been convicted unbeknownst to them, without attending hearings and without being summoned», he argued. For the head of Uniconso, «there is something wrong with summoning people living in another city by sending court summons to false addresses in Casablanca».
«It is no longer a recovery case, but a serious legal matter. Because 1,800 files investigated in one day is unimaginable and unconceivable».
Transparency Maroc could file a complaint
A FNAC board meeting was held yesterday, Wednesday. «We will issue a press release on this case and will seize all the bodies concerned, in particular the Higher Council of the Judicial Power (CSPJ), the Minister of Justice and the President of the Prosecutor's Office», he said.
«Such practices which violate the Constitution, the Law and consumer rights are not normal», he concluded.
For his part, Ahmed Bernoussi, president of the association Transparency Morocco, promised to react to the case. «We have taken note of the media revelations on this case. There will certainly be a press release from our association in the next few days», he said.
Asked about a possible complaint from his state-approved NGO, Ahmed Bernoussi remained vague. «We will study» this file, he explained while recalling that the association «can only file a complaint if certain victims do so». «We cannot take the initiative because the regulations do not allow it», he said.
«We are currently discussing, in our proceedings, the appropriate reaction», concludes the president of Transparency Morocco.
