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Seven people were killed and 125 wounded in the train accident that occurred in the Moroccan city of Bouknadel on October 16, 2018. By FADEL SENNA (AFP / File)
The driver of a pbadenger train that derailed and killed seven people in Morocco last year was found guilty of manslaughter, but released at the time it was has already served, said his lawyer Wednesday.
The guilty verdict was pronounced Tuesday by the Salé court of first instance, near Rabat, lawyer Chaouki Ajana told AFP.
Larbi Rich was sentenced to five months and five days in jail for manslaughter, which equates to the sentence that he has already served in detention since his detention after the accident occurred in mid-October, a said Ajana.
On 16 October, the train he was driving left the railway line about 20 kilometers north of Rabat, in the municipality of Sidi Bouknadel, killing seven people and injuring 125 others.
The 54-year-old driver, who himself suffered serious injuries at the time of the accident, was arrested on 23 October.
He should be released later on Wednesday, but his defense team will still appeal this conviction, said Ajana, describing his client as a "responsible man" with a flawless 30-year track record.
"Larbi Rich is innocent and wants this to be acknowledged," said Mehdi Sabik, another defense lawyer.
Prosecutors said in October that the derailment was caused by the train's "excessive" speed, which was running at 158 km / h (98 km / h) instead of the 37 mph (60 km / h) limit. .
The railway workers' union expressed on Monday its "unconditional support" to the driver and called on the national railway company ONCF to "badume its responsibilities".
According to media reports, the court has still not ruled on the compensation of injured pbadengers. The next hearing is scheduled for May 7th.
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