The Sidi Mohamed court in Algiers acquitted President Abdel Majid Taboun's son on charges of corruption in the real estate sector, while the main suspect was sentenced to eight years in prison, in force, Algerian radio reported Thursday.

The verdicts were issued late on Wednesday evening, after a full day of the trial, which was of great importance, given the presence of the president's son, Khaled Taboun, among the accused, who has been arrested since June.

During the trial session, the prosecution had requested that Khaled Taboun be convicted of two years of imprisonment.

The court convicted the main suspect, Kamal Sheikhi, of eight years in prison, an effective prison, and a fine of 10 million dinars (about 76,000 euros), while preventing him from participating in public deals for five years, according to the radio.

The official Algerian news agency APS explained that the main charge related to "granting concessions to benefit from illegal services by officials and employees" related to obtaining real estate and building licenses in violation of the law.

In the same case, a former mayor was convicted of six years in prison and four years for the driver of the former police chief, for "exploiting influence and providing undue benefits to my sheikh Kamal in exchange for money," the radio added.

In addition to Khaled Taboun, the court acquitted two judges of the charge of taking bribes.

Investigations began with Kamal Sheikhi, a close associate of the authority, during the reign of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, a real estate owner and meat importer, in May 2018, when more than 700 kg of cocaine was seized on a ship carrying meat imported from Brazil to Algeria.

The investigation of this case has not yet ended, except that the repercussions were significant for the authorities, the most important of which was the dismissal of the then director general of police, Major General Abdul Ghani Hamel, after discovering his private driver was involved, and then he was imprisoned pending his trial in several corruption cases with members of his family.

The investigations affected all the people who used to visit Kamal Shaikhi’s office, including the president’s son Tabun.