The Algerian Justice confirms the eight-year sentence against the little brother of former President Bouteflika

Oct. 4 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Algerian Justice confirmed on Tuesday the verdict against the little brother of former Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was sentenced in June to eight years in prison for illegal financing in relation to the former president’s campaign for his fifth term.

Said Bouteflika, who was arrested in May 2019 shortly after his brother’s resignation, was already sentenced in January 2020 to 15 years in prison in a case for “plot against the authority of the State and the Army”, although he was acquitted in January 2021 after the appeal process.

Now the Algerian Justice, according to the state news agency APS, has confirmed the conviction against Bouteflika and also against the businessman Ali Hadad, sentenced in the same corruption case to four years in prison for money laundering, influence peddling and fraud.

Hadad, former head of the Algerian employers, was also fined one million dinars (about 6,430 euros) in June in the framework of a case for corruption and abuse of his functions, while the younger brother of the former president was fined three million. (almost 20,000 euros).

The Algerian Justice had requested a ten-year prison sentence, as well as a fine of three million dinars against each of the accused and the confiscation of all movable and immovable property, as reported by ‘Tout sur l’Algerie’ .

However, the Justice has decided this Tuesday to lift the seizure of the assets imposed in June against the younger brother of the former Algerian president, which were inherited from his mother and his brother Mustapha.

Numerous businessmen and people close to Bouteflika have been arrested since his departure from power. Justice has ensured that he works independently and without receiving orders, although these processes have not satisfied the demands of the protesters that caused the fall of the former president.