Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi sharply criticized Moroccan banks for refusing to adopt electronic payments for judicial fees, saying their lack of cooperation is hindering the digitization of the justice sector.
Speaking to MPs during a discussion of his ministry’s 2027 budget, Ouahbi stressed that digital transformation cannot succeed without the involvement of all stakeholders.
He highlighted the risks of continued cash handling in courts, noting that cashiers routinely leave with large sums that can reach millions of dirhams.
This practice creates unnecessary security risks and must be replaced by electronic methods, he said.
The ministry had asked lawyers to use checks, but cash transactions by lawyers and judicial officers persist.
Ouahbi said the ministry then proposed that banks deposit files at courts, receive official receipts, and settle fees through the CDG deposit management fund instead of cash.
But most banks failed to respond positively, despite claiming advanced digital systems, he said.
