The trial relating to espionage involving executives of the French Embassy and officials at the port and at the Algiers international airport opened on Tuesday, November 10, 2020, at the Dar El Beรฏda criminal court.
The facts of this case go back to the year 2018. An individual was noticed by his incessant comings and goings at the French embassy in Algiers. The security services while keeping an eye on the intriguing individual opened an investigation to determine the exact nature of his activity.
After several months of investigation, it turned out to be a spy. Responding to the initials of GA and holding dual nationality, the young man was in contact with an executive of the French Embassy in Algiers, to whom he provided information on various files.
They concerned in particular people arrested in France and having links with terrorist groups as well as elements of criminal networks specializing in car theft in Algeria. It also concerns information on people working in the field of falsification of administrative documents and travel visas. The alleged spy also provided information on the internal situation of the country’s military and security apparatus.
Six people involved
The young spy obtained this information from his various relays, including senior officers at the port and at the international airport of Algiers. The young man benefited from all the facilities to enter and leave the structures of the State. He was driving in a car with a diplomatic registration number.
The statements and confessions of the accused as well as the in-depth investigation carried out by the security services made it possible to find five other people involved in the same case. They are being prosecuted on several counts and risk heavy prison sentences. During the trial, the main defendant denied the facts against him, arguing that at the time of the facts, he was in France.