Algeria: former PM Noureddine Bedoui on trial for corruption
Algerian former Prime Minister, Noureddine Bedoui risks a second conviction.
Bedoui, who has already been sentenced to ten years in prison on December 1, 2022 is, once again, on trial for acts of corruption concerning the construction of the Constantine airport, according to Jeune Afrique.
It is alleged that the former Prime Minister has committed embezzlement in the context of the construction of the Constantine airport, which was estimated to cost 441 million dinars, but ultimately cost 3 billion dinars– a 615% increase. Bedoui will appear before the economic and financial center of the Sidi M’hamed court to answer for this gross misalignment.
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The project of the Constantine airport was first launched in 2003, under the leadership of the ex-wali Tahar Sakrane, and was supposed to be carried out in a 48-month period. In reality, the project wasn’t finished until 10 years later.
At the hearing, Tahar Sakrane, as well as Abdelmalek Boudiaf, former Minister of Health and ex-prefect of Constantine, and Noureddine Bedoui were thoroughly questioned by the President of the tribunal.
During the hearing, Bedoui stated that “These are financial envelopes validated by the Ministry of Finance and signed by the director of the budget.” In an attempt to clear his name Bedoui also specified that when he was appointed head of the Wilaya of Constantine, the work was already 80% complete. Further attempting to provide an explanation for the construction laying so long, Bedoui also specified that it is because in Algeria the realization of projects depends on the level of oil revenues, which was in decline during this period.
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Despite these arguments, the public prosecutor requested a sentence of eight years in prison and a fine of 1 million dinars against Bedoui and Boudiaf. Additionally, the prosecutor requested five years in detention for Tahar Sakrane and Benyoucef Aziz, as well as sentences of three to five years against some forty co-defendants, consisting of entrepreneurs and design office owners.
Because prison sentences are not cumulative in Algeria, Bedoui will have to serve the heaviest sanction pronounced against him.
Jeune Afrique
