Following a series of leaked documents by the group «Jabroot» targeting Morocco's Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi, Abdelilah Benkirane, the Secretary-General of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), took to social media to launch a scathing critique of the minister. He highlighted that «a minister who falsifies an official document submitted to the tax authorities, declaring less than a tenth of the property's actual value to dodge tax obligations, is unacceptable». Benkirane characterized this conduct as a «flagrant breach of the constitution, particularly Articles 39 and 40, along with the general tax code». He also urged the Minister to resign, emphasizing that this action is «a necessity dictated by the rule of law and institutions, and the principle of linking responsibility with accountability». According to the leaked documents from «Jabroot», Ouahbi secured a bank loan of 11 million dirhams on December 2, 2020, prior to taking office, to acquire a luxury property in Rabat. He managed to repay the loan in full by July 15, 2024, within less than four years. The minister later transferred the property to his wife on August 12, 2024, declaring its value at merely one million dirhams, a figure ten times lower than its true worth. In response to the leaks, the Minister of Justice clarified in a statement to the Hespress, stating, «Those who published these leaks did not reveal the complete file». He added, «The property was gifted to my wife, who does not work and has no pension, as a gesture of appreciation for domestic labor, which I have consistently supported. I did not take any money or profit from this transaction». When questioned about the undervaluation of the gifted property, Ouahbi asserted that «he has the right to value the property at any amount he chooses, as it is simply a gift and not a transaction yielding financial gain or profit». He further stated, «If it is proven that I profited from this transaction and evaded taxes, I am prepared to face accountability». The minister also confirmed that he has declared the transfer of the property to his wife and all his assets to the relevant authorities, expressing his willingness to undergo a tax review.
