Former Moroccan MP sees sentence reduced in World Cup ticket scam appeal

A Casablanca appeal court sentenced, Wednesday, former National Rally of Independents MP Mohamed El Hidaoui to 8 months in prison for embezzlement over tickets destined for the country's fans in last year's FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

El Hidaoui, who also heads the Olympic Safi football club, has seen his sentence reduced after a first instance court sentenced him earlier this year to 18 months in jail and a 2,000 dh-fine.

Radio Mars sports journalist Adil El Omari, co-accused in the same case, was acquitted by the appeal court, and fined 10,000 dhs. In August, the first instance court in Casablanca handed him a 10-month sentence and fined him 1,000 dhs.

For the record, El Hidaoui and El Omari were prosecuted after tickets of the World Cup, promised for Morocco fans, were sold in the black market.

Consequently, El Hidaoui has lost his seat at the parliament. The decision was made public, Tuesday December 26, by the country’s Constitutional Court.