Ouahbi : We are working on the latest amendments to present a very developed penal code procedure
Mr. Abdellatif Ouahbi, Minister of Justice, has confirmed that, in the aftermath of his appointment and his coming to the Ministry, has found out that the three former ministers have supervised over finalization of the penal code procedure, and that there remains only some minor changes, so he has decided to add some changes to present a very developed code which will include international accords and agreements adopted by Morocco and therefore will ensure a balance between public defense and lawyers.
The Minister stated in an intervention during the hearing oral session held Monday, November 15, 2021, at the House of Representatives, that next Friday he will hold a last meeting at his department to put final highlights for the new penal code procedure, pointing out that many texts have been changed as regard to the penal code in relation with the presence of lawyers at police detention posts and during hearing, as well as texts in relation with police custody, especially the decision justification and also what is called release on bail and the presence of social assistants and changes of a number of texts about fines.
In his same intervention, the Minister said “We like to present a new developed code procedure, so that prison will not remain in many instances the only single solution, and also to provide lawyers with the same available means at the public prosecution to ensure a balance among different parties and also to allow electronic element to be present for correspondences and reports changes”.
The Minister has clarified by saying “”the penal procedure is the depth of democracy and of guarantees being stipulated in the penal code procedure which afford protection from any abuse of power, or guarantees the defense rights, to the degree that some jurisprudence scholars have said “it is part of the public order because it insists on providing the accused and victims the right and conditions for a fair trial”.
