By RFIPosted on 09-25-2019 Modified the 25-09-2019 at 08:52

Algerian military court sentenced Said Bouteflika, brother of ousted President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, to 15 years in prison on charges of "undermining the authority of the army" and "conspiracy against state authority", reports official agency APS.

Algerian military court sentenced Said Bouteflika, brother of ousted President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, to 15 years in prison on charges of " undermining the authority of the army " and " conspiracy against state authority ", reports official APS agency on September 25th.

General Mohamed Medien, nicknamed Toufik, and his successor at the head of the intelligence Athmane Tartag, as well as the general secretary of the Workers Party (PT, Trotskyists) Louisa Hanoune, tried in the same case before the military court of Blida, south from Algiers, received the same penalty, according to APS.

The court also sentenced former defense minister and former army chief Khaled Nezzar, his son Lotfi, and Farid Benhamdine, manager of the Algerian Pharmacy Society, to 20 years in prison. all three tried in absentia in the same case.

This emblematic trial takes place after a wave of mass arrests in the entourage of Abdelaziz Bouteflika, forced to resign in early April after months of a protest movement unpublished.

Alleged corruption

Judicial inquiries were then opened into allegations of corruption against former political leaders and businessmen, accused of having benefited from their privileged links with Abdelaziz Bouteflika's regime.

The deposed president's brother and two former intelligence bosses were jailed on May 5th. Louisa Hanoune was remanded in custody four days later.

The defense admitted that Louisa Hanoune had attended a meeting with Said Bouteflika and General Toufik on March 27, the day after a statement by the army chief of staff, General Ahmed Gaïd Salah, publicly requesting the departure of Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

►Also read: Said Bouteflika, brother of the former Algerian president, in court

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