Minister of Justice Mr. Abdellatif Ouahbi has stated that alternative penalties project bill is still subject to discussion and will be explained in details to Moroccans at different forums. Minister Ouahbi was the guest of 2M TV prime time program “With Ramadani” answering questions on the alternative project bill process.
On the question about the current situation of the alternative bill project, Minister Ouahbi has confirmed that “the bill project is still subject discussion”, explaining that “the matter is not to commit a crime, pay fines and then to be released from jail; there needs to be some conditions such as the prisoner’s behavior inside the prison, repentance and to have solved the problem with the victim”.
Minister Ouahbi has added that “when it comes to payment, the judge will define the fine account according to the prisoner’s income, if the income is high, the prisoner will pay MAD 3.000 fine per day; if it’s low income, he will pay only MAD 50 or 100 a day. The fine will be calculated on the basis of the prisoner’s income by the judge”.
“In case the prisoner is released and commits a new offend or goes to see the victim (to settle the score with him), he should then return to jail although he has paid the fine for his sentence”. In conclusion, Minister Ouahbi has made clear that “the matter does not consist of “anyone who commits a crime, pay his fine then be released: The project bill for alternative penalties is still under discussion and will be submitted to debate by concerned parties before it goes to Parliament for more discussion”.