Rabat - After nearly seven months of tension-filled anticipation, the Al Hoceima Criminal Chamber of the Court of Appeal returned its verdicts on the suspects involved in the case of Mouhcine Fikri, the fishmonger. He was crushed to death in a trash compactor while protesting the confiscation of his merchandise by authorities on October 28, 2016.

Rabat – After nearly seven months of tension-filled anticipation, the Al Hoceima Criminal Chamber of the Court of Appeal returned its verdicts on the suspects involved in the case of Mouhcine Fikri, the fishmonger. He was crushed to death in a trash compactor while protesting the confiscation of his merchandise by authorities on October 28, 2016.

Charged with falsifying an official report, the court gave eight months of prison time to the delegate for fishing, the Head of the Marine Fisheries Department, the Maritime Fishing Commissioner and the deputy of Basha in Al Hoceima.

The court also sentenced the driver of the truck, the truck cleaner, and the guard of fishing boats to five months in prison for the manslaughter. The driver was also fined MAD 500. The guard of fishing boats was slapped with an indemnity for the victim’s family valued at MAD 33,000. The court acquitted the other suspects involved in the case.

The prosecution follows an investigation led by Al Hoceima’s investigative judge since December.

The death of Fikri triggered a large protest nationwide and sparked widespread outrage among Moroccans, who took to the streets to denounce the humiliation and oppression they experience at the hands of the authorities.