The Tetouan provincial office of the Istiqlal party announced that Daniel Ziouziou's membership had been suspended following an urgent consultation meeting on Saturday, May 25. Ziouziou, arrested last Wednesday, is the city's sixth deputy mayor and is suspected of significant embezzlement of funds from the accounts of Union of Moroccan Banks (UMB) clients. He served as UMB's regional director. Another Tetouan city official is also implicated in the case. On Saturday morning, Ziouziou was brought before the Attorney General of the Rabat Court of Appeal. The investigating judge of the financial crimes chamber ordered his preventive detention at the Tamesna prison in Temara. In a statement, the Istiqlal party referred to the «provisions of its new statute, particularly articles 16 and 19 related to the consecration of an ethical charter governing the work of all representatives in elected institutions». Ziouziou, who was also a member of the Moghreb de Tetouan (MAT) committee, was arrested just days after another Tetouan deputy mayor, Anas El Yemlahi, was sentenced to 10 months in prison. El Yemlahi was found guilty of corruption involving the exchange of jobs at the Ministry of Justice for bribes. In Ziouziou's case, the alleged victims reportedly include individuals, associations, and companies. The total amount embezzled could exceed 100,000 DH.
