The case involving the sale of Master's degrees at the Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences of Ibn Zohr University in Agadir has taken a new judicial turn, after the Criminal Appeals Chamber in charge of financial crimes at the Marrakech Court of Appeal issued, late Thursday evening, November 12, 2026, rulings increasing the sentences handed down to several defendants, while also imposing additional financial and property-related penalties.
According to details published by the Moroccan press on Friday morning, November 13, the judicial panel decided to increase the prison sentence of the university professor, the main defendant in the case, from four years to seven years of imprisonment, while the sentence for a second defendant was increased from four to five years of imprisonment.
The adjustments extended to other defendants, as the court increased the sentence of one of them to two years of imprisonment. It also overturned the initial acquittal of another defendant, finding him guilty and sentencing him to two years of imprisonment and a fine of 20,000 dirhams.
The judicial decisions were not limited to custodial sentences but also included the confiscation of a property registered in the name of the professor's wife for the benefit of the State's private domain, as part of the measures related to the financial aspect of the case.
In the civil proceedings, the court decided to increase the compensation due to the Moroccan State, as a civil party, to 1.5 million dirhams, holding the concerned defendants jointly liable for the payment, according to the information released regarding the appellate decision.
The case stems from judicial investigations linked to suspicions of bribery, abuse of influence, and tampering with admission procedures for Master's programs, events that have sparked widespread interest due to their impact on the credibility of university degrees and the principle of equal opportunity among students.
The primary Criminal Chamber in charge of financial crimes in Marrakech had issued its initial rulings during the month of April 2026, before the case was reviewed by the Appeals Chamber, which concluded by increasing several sentences and amending certain financial provisions.
Despite the conclusion of the appeal phase, the judicial decision remains subject to an appeal before the Court of Cassation in accordance with legal conditions and deadlines, which requires distinguishing between the issuance of appellate rulings and their finality after the exhaustion of available legal remedies.
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