In Algeria, the war against food speculation continues. In recent days, many speculators have been heavily sentenced. In the past 24 hours, 9 people have been imprisoned in Algiers and Khenchela after receiving heavy prison sentences for illicit speculation.
In Rouiba (Algiers), the court of this city in the east of the capital sentenced this Thursday three people to a 10-year prison term accompanied by a fine of two million dinars for illicit speculation on products of wide consumption.
This was indicated by the prosecution of this court, stating that these individuals were prosecuted after the seizure of a large number of dates which was stored in an unauthorized cold room, according to the same source.
” In application of the provisions of article 11 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the public prosecutor’s office at the Rouiba court, informs the public that following the seizure of a considerable quantity of dates, stored in a cold store unauthorized, three suspects were prosecuted by the procedure of immediate appearance for the offense of illicit speculation, “says the press release.
“ On March 22, 2023, the court sentenced the three concerned to a 10-year prison sentence accompanied by a fine of two million,” adds the same source.
Algeria: the war against speculation continues
Law 21-15 of December 28, 2021 relating to the fight against illicit speculation provides for heavy penalties against individuals involved in these crimes, which can go up to 30 years in prison and life imprisonment, if the crime has was committed within the framework of an organized group, recalls the press release.
In Khenchela, six people were sentenced on Wednesday, March 22 to between seven and 12 years in prison for illicit speculation in wheat and its derivatives, and fraudulent commercial practices with the issuance of fictitious and false invoices.
These sentences were accompanied by fines varying between one and five million dinars, the prosecution of the Khenchela court said in a press release. One of the defendants was placed under a warrant of committal after the proscription of the verdict while the five others had been imprisoned during the previous hearing which took place on March 15th.
Algeria has been waging all-out war on speculation in staple foods since last fall. A particularly repressive anti-speculation law was enacted in January 2022. Since then, many people have been heavily sentenced to prison.
This war, which has intensified with the approach of Ramadan 2023 which began this Thursday, March 23 in Algeria, aims to fight against speculation which the authorities consider being the main factor behind the shortages and tensions on some basic food products such as semolina, milk in sachets and edible oil.
