Ex-Algeria president’s brother in court on corruption charges

The brother of former Algerian ormer President Abdelaziz Bouteflika yesterday stood before a court in the capital, Algiers, on corruption charges.

Last month, the judge listened to Said’s testimony in the charges against him including secret electoral campaign financing, money laundering, and concealment of revenues from corruption involving business mogul, Ali Haddad.

Algerian Echorouk newspaper, quoted Haddad as saying that Saeid Bouteflika had specifically asked to borrow equipment purchased for the Dayr TV channel at a cost of $263,100, noting that it was returned after the election campaign was frozen.

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During the previous sessions, Said denied the corruption charges against him as well as having any ties with the Ali Haddad case.

He described the secret financing allegations of the electoral campaign as “baseless”, explaining that he had only served as an advisor to the president and was not responsible for his electoral campaign.

Meanwhile, Saeid Bouteflika’s lawyer said there is no evidence that his client had committed the charges, including the allegations of hidden financing of the electoral campaign, money laundering, and concealment of revenues obtained from corruption.