Moroccan Rapper ElGrande Toto Misses Court Appearance Again

Moroccan rapper ElGrande Toto has once again failed to appear in court, leading to another postponement of his trial. Due to his repeated absences, the court is now considering proceeding with a trial in absentia.

The criminal chamber of the Casablanca Court of Appeal scheduled a new hearing for the rapper’s case. However, upon confirming his absence, the court decided to postpone the trial to April 14.

Given his continued absence, the court may either activate the in absentia procedure or move the case to deliberations, especially since the trial has been ongoing for two years and has faced multiple obstacles.

ElGrande Toto is facing charges from journalist Mohamed Tijini and a security officer, after several artists withdrew their complaints against him. He is being prosecuted for defamation, insults, threats, public indecency, drug consumption and incitement, as well as recording and sharing inappropriate content online.

In January, the criminal chamber of the Casablanca First Instance Court sentenced him to an eight-month suspended prison term and a fine of 10,000 dirhams, in addition to civil compensation, following complaints from the journalist and the security officer.