The former mayor of the city of Tangier, Samir Abdelmoula, was questioned on Tuesday by the investigating judge in charge of financial crimes at the annex of the Court of Appeal of Sale, as a witness in the Comanav affair, we learn from a judicial source.

Seven individuals are being prosecuted in connection with this file, six of whom are in pre-trial detention. The seventh accused, in a state of provisional release, is placed under judicial supervision. From the same source, the investigating judge also heard the former mayor's brother, also as a witness.

The chairman and chief executive officer of the Comanav company, father of Samir Abdelmoula, had also been questioned.

The affair dates back to June 19 when former officials, executives, and civil servants of the company were referred to justice for "constitution of a criminal gang, with a view to sabotaging public establishments and structures (ports and boats) and participation, attack on the internal security of the State, disclosure of professional secrets, and obstruction of the freedom to work".

As a reminder, the Central Committee of Moroccan Shipowners has not stopped sounding the alarm and throwing bottles into the sea in order to draw the attention of officials to the dysfunctions that prevail there. The problems do not date from today. Already because of an unfavourable economic situation for international maritime transport during the 90s and the ageing of the national fleet, the Moroccan armament had to undergo a profound restructuring (reduction of staff and fleet) mainly of public maritime companies (Comanav and Marphocean).

Nevertheless, this restructuring was hardly accompanied by an upgrading of its companies which will continue to experience a deficit situation. Many attempts have been made by the State to reform the sector but they have remained fruitless. Perhaps the lifeline would lie in a liberalisation of the sector.