Corruption trials involving former senior officials and businessmen from the time of the late President Abdelaziz Bouteflika continue to cascade through the country’s courts.
Yesterday, Tuesday, May 17, 2022, the appeal trial was held against Baha Eddine Tliba, former deputy of the National Liberation Front (FLN), and Skander Ould Abbès, son of the former Secretary-General (SG) of the same party and former Minister of National Solidarity, Djamel Ould Abbès.
The Attorney General at the Court of Algiers requested, this Tuesday, May 17, a sentence of ten (10) years in prison accompanied by a fine of ten (10) million dinars against Skander Ould Abbès, son of former FLN SG and former Minister, Djamel Ouled Abbès. Regarding Baha Eddine Tliba, former deputy of the FLN, the Attorney General requested a sentence of five (5) years in prison with a fine of one (1) million dinars against him.
In this case, the defendants are prosecuted for charges related to corruption, undue influence, obtaining undue advantages and money laundering. Indeed, the facts date back to the legislative elections of 2017, when the lists of the FLN party were drawn up.
This trial also involves the former SG of the Ministry of National Solidarity, Khelladi Bouchnak, against whom a sentence of eight (8) years in prison and a fine of ten (10) million dinars have been requested. by the Attorney General, with the seizure of all property related to this case.
It should be noted that this appeal trial comes after the admissibility of the cassation appeal proceedings introduced by the defense of the respondents. Moreover, during the hearing, the defendants rejected the charges brought against them and the former SG of the FLN, Djamel Ould Abbès, was heard as a witness.
Tliba and the two sons of Ould Abbès sentenced at first instance
Recall that the former member of the National People’s Assembly (APN), Baha Eddine Tliba, had been sentenced by the Algiers court, in December 2020, to a seven (7) year prison term accompanied by a fine of eight (8) million dinars for breach of exchange regulations and capital movements from and to abroad.
Skander Ould Abbès, son of the former Minister of National Solidarity, received the same sentence, while his brother, El Wafi Ould Abbès, was sentenced in absentia to twenty (20) years in prison with an international arrest warrant issued against him.
For his part, the former SG of the Ministry of National Solidarity, Khelladi Bouchnak, had been sentenced to two (2) years in prison together with a fine of 200,000 dinars. As for him, the former Minister Djamel Ould Abbès is serving an eight (8) year prison sentence for squandering public funds, the conclusion of transactions in violation of the legislation in force, abuse of power, and use of false public documents.
