Rabat – The Court of Appeal in Fez ruled a local psychiatrist guilty, sentencing him to 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting his patients.
Moroccan news outlet Le360 said the court sentenced six other co-defendants to prison terms of up to six years. The same source said the trial was a marathon session that lasted several hours.
The main defendant received 20 years in prison as well as a fine of MAD 200,000. His cousin was also found guilty of participating in human trafficking and possessing hard drugs. The relative received five years in prison and MAD 50,000 as a fine.
The court additionally sentenced a nurse to one year in prison. A Belgian national who owns a riad in the old medina also received the same prison sentence, along with an employee working with him.
A professor also received a sentence of six months in prison. Meanwhile, a photographer received six years in prison and a fine of MAD 10,000.
The suspect faced serious charges, including the sexual exploitation of female patients under the guise of medical treatment, as well as drug use and trafficking.
“The case involved allegations of sexual exploitation in a therapeutic setting, drug consumption, and the organization of illicit meetings,” the source added.
The court also ordered the psychiatrist to pay compensation to one of the victims, while his cousin and the photographer will pay compensation to the same victim.
Another victim will also receive compensation, but the defense said no compensation would fix the damages done by the defendants.