Moroccan courts adjourn trials of journalists, army officers

2007-08-03

The Casablanca court postponed the trial of al-Watan al-An Editor-in-Chief Abderrahim Ariri and journalist Mustapha Hormatallah until August 7th, during a hearing on Thursday (August 2nd), MAP reported. The two have been charged with "possession of stolen material," under Article 571 of the criminal code. The first instance court once again denied the provisional release of Hormatallah. The trial against the two journalists began last Tuesday.

MAP reported that the military court in Rabat, which is trying eight army officers in the same case, also adjourned until August 7th. Ariri and Hormatallah are among the witnesses to appear before the court at the next session. The court also accepted the request by the defence to examine the seized documents. The eight officers face charges of disclosing secret information under Article 446 of the penal code. If proven guilty, they may receive sentences of one to six months and a fine of 1,000 to 200,000 dirhams. One of the defendants has been charged under Article 192 of the penal code and could face one to five years in prison and a fine of 1,000 to 10,000 dirhams.