Four former Moroccan Cabinet Ministers, convicted on corruption charges, have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 4 years to 12 years. The four were among 12 men accused of gaining more than two million dollars (GBP800,000 sterling) by accepting large bribes from foreign companies in return for contracts in Morocco.

The companies named were from West Germany, France, the United States and Russia.

A former minister of public works, Yahia Chefchaouni, as sentenced to 12 years in jail. The other ex-ministers convicted were Mamoun Tahiri (finance) who got 10 years, Mohamed Jaidi,(Commerce, Industry and Mines) 8 years, and Abdelhamid Kriem(Tourism) sentenced to four years. In addition all four were fined and their property was confiscated to the amount of cash they collected illegally.

Of the other 8 men accused, two ex-ministers and two businessmen were acquitted, but three high ranking government officials were sentenced to four years each.

A businessman, Omar Ben Messaoud, whose evidence led to the arrest of the accused, was sentenced to 8 years in PRISON.

SYNOPSIS: Four former Moroccan Cabinet Ministers, convicted on corruption charges, have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from four to twelve years. They were among twelve men accused of procuring or accepting two million dollars in bribes from foreign companies in return for contracts in Morocco. The companies were from West Germany, France, the United States and Russia.

The ex-ministers also had property, to the value of the money they collected illegally, confiscate.

A former minister of public works, Yahia Chefchaouni, was sentences to twelve years in jail. The ex-minister of Finance Mamoun Tahiri, got ten years, Mohammed Jaidi, Minister of Commerce and Industry ??? Mines got eight years, and Abdelhamid Kriem of the Tourist Ministry get four years.

Two other ex-ministers and ??? businessman were acquitted ??? government officials were ??? to four years each; and the ??? whose evidence led to the arrest ??? other accused, got eight years ???.