Algerian ex-Prime Minister, Abdelmalek Sellal has been detained for ‘ corruption ‘
Algeria‘s Supreme Court has jailed former Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal for corruption. In an anti-corruption crackdown, this makes the second former head of government in two days to be sent to prison while his case is being investigated.
The former trade minister Amara Benyounes was also detention based on court orders, over alleged involvement in corruption, private channel Ennahar TV reported.
“Sellal, who left office in a May 2017 cabinet reshuffle after serving as premier and Bouteflika’s campaign manager several times, is under investigation over dissipation of public funds. Former trade minister Amara Benyounes, who served under Sellal from April 2014 to July 2015, appeared before the supreme court in a corruption case’’ state television said.
A statement on Thursday by the prosecutor’s office said that Sellal is being investigated for “corruption and dilapidation of public funds” among other things.
Sellal, 70, was questioned earlier Thursday by an investigative judge at the Supreme Court in cases related to waste of public money, abuse of power and illegal favouritism, Algeria’s official news agency APS reported, without providing further details.
Benyounes, who served under Sellal from April 2014 to July 2015, is also the leader of the pro-government party the Algerian Popular Movement.
State television also said police had arrested Mourad Eulmi, head of the private firm SOVAC, a partner of Germany’s Volkswagen AG, at a car assembly plant in the western province of Relizane in connection with “corruption cases”.
Abdelmalek Sellal detained for corruption, comes a day after former Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, a leading political figure forced out in March, was sent to the El Harrach prison – in which Sellal was jailed.
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