The prosecutor general at the Court of Appeal of Rabat affirmed, Tuesday, that the investigating judge at this jurisdiction ordered the placement in pre-trial detention of six individuals for their alleged involvement in the preparation of acts of sabotage targeting port structures, boats and the internal security of the State.

A press release from the Public Prosecutor's Office specifies that the accused are also prosecuted for obstructing the freedom to work and participation in the disclosure of professional secrets.

The same source recalls that the prosecutor general at this Court "received information according to which individuals perpetrated illegal acts of a nature to undermine the internal security of the State and national economic interests, to damage structures, ports and boats and to obstruct the freedom to work at the Tanger-Med port, a vital economic artery of the Kingdom which faces fierce competition from neighbouring foreign ports".

The accused, explains the press release, used social conflicts that Tanger-Med has been experiencing for months, which were on the point of paralysing this enclosure, during the month of May last, after employees of the port had immobilised two ships with the help of cranes, some of whom on board resorted to force and threats. These protests also prevented contractual Italian boats, supposed to ensure the transport of immigrants between the two shores of the Mediterranean, and hindered the movement of all boats at Tanger-Med and at the port of Béni Ansar, continues the press release, affirming that these acts were committed to "serve personal interests, those of foreign competing persons and companies".

According to the same source, the prosecutor general at the Court of Appeal of Rabat ordered an investigation into a group of individuals for their alleged involvement in the constitution of a criminal gang with a view to sabotaging structures, ports and boats and undermining the internal security of the State, as well as in participation in the obstruction of the freedom of action and the disclosure of professional secrets.

On the basis of a letter rogatory, the investigating judge tasked the National Brigade of the Judicial Police to conduct investigations at the end of which seven individuals were heard, adds the press release, specifying that six accused were placed in pre-trial detention. The investigation into this case is still ongoing.