Rabat, Morocco (TMT)-The Editor-in-chief of Akhbar Al Yaoum, Morocco’s most read newspaper, Taoufik Bouachrine, who is also one of Morocco’s most read columnists was sentenced to a 2-months suspended prison sentence and ordered to pay 1.6 million dirhams in damages to US journalist Richard Miniter and Ahmed Charai, director of Medi Editions (legal owner of various news outlets in Morocco).
Telquel.ma contacted Taoufiq Bouachrine in the aftermath of the trial, one that took place in Casablanca.
Telquel.ma reported that in addition to said prison sentence, “Taoufiq must pay 800,000 dirhams to the director of Midi Editions Ahmed Charai, and the same amount to US journalist Richard Miniter,” in addition to a 10,000 dirhams fine.
Taoufik Bouachrine told Telquel.ma that he was intending to lodge an appeal.
The man added that he was surprised by the sentence, especially that “the same lawsuit was brought against Spanish journalist Ignacio Cembrero in Spain, with the latter being acquitted of any wrongdoings.”
It is worth reminding that Bouachrine was sued for libel after stating in an editorial that Richard Miniter received a considerable sum of money to write an article on Forbes — entitled “Is Arab Spring Bad For Investors?”– in a bet to undermine the “Islamist Benkirane government” and repel investors from the Kingdom.
The Moroccan Times.
