Police custody
- Duration of 48 hours, renewable once for 24 hours with the authorisation of the public prosecutor; special time limits apply to offences against state security and terrorism.
- The right to have your family informed, the right to a medical examination and the right to remain silent.
- A meeting with a lawyer from the first hour of the extension, and from the outset if the public prosecutor authorises it; the record must state the rights notified.
- The police report is authoritative until proven otherwise for minor offences and misdemeanours; irregularities in it may render it void.
From the public prosecutor to judgment
- The King's Prosecutor decides whether to prosecute: dropping the case, direct summons, or opening a judicial investigation for serious crimes or complex cases.
- Before the investigating judge, the person under investigation has access to the file through their lawyer and may request investigative steps; pre-trial detention is limited in time and open to appeal.
- The Court of First Instance tries misdemeanours; the criminal chamber of the Court of Appeal tries serious crimes.
- Appeal within ten days of the judgment; appeal to the Court of Cassation within ten days of the appellate ruling.
Victims and civil parties
The victim files a complaint with the public prosecutor or the judicial police, joins the proceedings as a civil party and seeks compensation before the criminal court; the victim may also initiate the prosecution by filing a complaint with a civil party claim before the investigating judge. The firm assists both defendants and victims before the courts of Rabat.
This guide is provided for general information by Maître Lahfaia Law Firm, Rabat. It is no substitute for advice tailored to your situation; the rules and deadlines mentioned may change.