The representative of the Public Prosecutor's Office at the Rabat Court of Appeal requested, on Monday, the conviction of the president of the Sidi Yahia El Gharb municipal council, who is being prosecuted for corruption, and that he be given the maximum sentence in accordance with the law, as part of his indictment before the Criminal Chamber in charge of financial crimes.

Also a member of the House of Councillors, the accused is charged with "having requested and received a sum of money for mediation in a case by using influence peddling".

The accused, who was heard on Monday by the Criminal Chamber, denied having received a sum of money, adding that his relationship with the entrepreneur (the plaintiff) is professional, in his capacity as president of the municipal council, and with whom he has concluded several contracts.

For its part, the defence presented appeals on the form regarding the non-respect of the duration of police custody and the nullity of the police report. The Court decided to postpone the examination of these requests.

The Court also set the date of 20 May to hear the defence's pleadings.

The accused had been arrested last January in the act of corruption on the orders of the public prosecutor's office while he was receiving a sum of 200,000 DH from an entrepreneur in charge of carrying out road works in the city of Sidi Yahia (Sidi Slimane province).