Renowned Moroccan Plastic Surgeon Arrested for Human Trafficking, Fraud

Renowned Moroccan Plastic Surgeon Arrested for Human Trafficking, Fraud
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Renowned Moroccan Plastic Surgeon Arrested for Human Trafficking, Fraud

Renowned Moroccan Plastic Surgeon Arrested for Human Trafficking, Fraud

Authorities in Casablanca have arrested famous plastic surgeon Hassan Tazi, his wife, and a number of employees from his clinic on April 2. The doctor is accused of falsifying official documents and embezzling charity money.

The General Prosecution moved the files of the five arrested suspects to the appeal court in Casablanca.

The charges include human trafficking and luring vulnerable people to exploit them in illegal practices, fraud, falsification of official documents, issuance of fake certificates, and illegal increases of medical services’ prices. The doctor and his partners have been also accused of ‘capturing and sharing photos of patients without their consent,” including photos of women who underwent liposuction surgeries posted on Facebook.

The General Directorate of National Security said in a statement that the National Force of Judiciary Police transferred eight people including a woman, a business owner, and a number of employees to the General Prosecution in Casablanca’s Appeal Court, for involvement in fraud, embezzlement, and forgery.

The investigations showed the suspects are involved in forming a criminal group that collects donations from philanthropists for alleged surgeries performed in the clinic where work most of the suspects. They are also accused of illegally increasing the prices of medical services to collect bigger donations, the statement added.

The national security forces arrested the main suspect responsible for contacting patients and exploiting their pictures in donations collection, as well as falsifying bills and medical reports in compliance with other suspects.

The general prosecution conducted a judicial inspection of the eight suspects and decided to keep five of them under arrest and release the rest until their trial.



Leslie Strengthens into a Hurricane in the Atlantic but Isn’t Threatening Land

An aerial view of flood damage along the Swannanoa River in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on October 4, 2024 in Swannanoa, North Carolina. (Getty Images/AFP)
An aerial view of flood damage along the Swannanoa River in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on October 4, 2024 in Swannanoa, North Carolina. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Leslie Strengthens into a Hurricane in the Atlantic but Isn’t Threatening Land

An aerial view of flood damage along the Swannanoa River in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on October 4, 2024 in Swannanoa, North Carolina. (Getty Images/AFP)
An aerial view of flood damage along the Swannanoa River in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on October 4, 2024 in Swannanoa, North Carolina. (Getty Images/AFP)

Leslie has strengthened into a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean and isn’t threatening land, forecasters said.

The storm was located Saturday about 725 miles (1,170 kilometers) west-southwest of the southernmost Cabo Verde Islands and had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph). There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Kirk remained a Category 4 major hurricane, and waves from the system were affecting the Leeward Islands, Bermuda, and the Greater Antilles, forecasters said. The storm's swells were expected to spread to the East Coast of the United States, the Atlantic Coast of Canada and the Bahamas on Saturday night and Sunday.

Forecasters warned the waves could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Kirk was expected to weaken starting Saturday, the center said.

Though there were no coastal warnings or watches in effect for Kirk, the center said those in the Azores, where swells could hit Monday, should monitor the storm's progress.

Kirk was about 975 miles (1,570 kilometers) east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (209 kph).

The storms churned in the Atlantic as rescuers in the US Southeast searched for people unaccounted for after Hurricane Helene struck last week, leaving behind a trail of death and catastrophic damage.