Moroccan Judicial Police have summoned Noureddine Mediane, the former president of the Independence and Equality Party in the House of Representatives, following a lawsuit filed against him by his party colleague Rafi’a Al-Mansouri.
According to “Hespress” newspaper, Mediane was summoned last week but he apologized for attending due to his political commitments and his busy schedule in supervising regional conferences to appoint participants in the eighteenth national conference of the Independence Party.
The newspaper earlier confirmed that Mediane faces charges such as “human trafficking” and “threats, extortion, and defamation,” based on leaked audio recordings, which sources believe represent only “a part of the recordings relevant to the case.”
The newspaper reports that Mediane requested postponement of his hearing in the case that shook the foundations of the Independence Party until after the conference and the completion of the important stage in the party’s history.
Meanwhile, the newspaper spoke to one of Rafi’a Al-Mansouri’s defense team members, who neither denied nor confirmed Mediane’s summons for questioning regarding the complaint against him, stating: “Legal procedures have been initiated directly by order of the Public Prosecution, and investigations are ongoing, with all parties set to be heard.”
He added: “We trust the Public Prosecution and the procedures applied to everyone because all citizens are subject to the law and its authority.”
The same source continued: “No one can evade the procedures ordered by the Public Prosecution within its legal jurisdiction, regardless of their position, claimed authorities, or excuses they present. We trust the Public Prosecution and its commitment to law enforcement, and we emphasize that the defendant cannot use regional conferences or political engagements as excuses to evade legal authority.”
He concluded: “The allegations and insults in the audio recordings against Mediane are directed at our client.”
