By RFIPosted 30-04-2019Modified on 30-04-2019 at 19:40

In Algeria, a new tenor of the Bouteflika regime heard at the courthouse on Tuesday morning. This is former Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, four times prime minister since 1995. Honored by the street that was asking for his head, he resigned under pressure on April 2nd.

On the images shot by the press, we see him get off a car, under very high police protection, then rush into the court of Sidi M'Hamed, in the center of Algiers, he will leave, free at 15h local.

This arrival at the tribunal did not go unnoticed: Ahmed Ouyahia is a strong symbol of the regime. He was expected by dozens of protesters with hostile slogans. Some had not forgotten to come with a jar of yoghurt, an allusion to a small sentence that the former Prime Minister would have once pronounced and which remained in everyone's memory: he said one day - in times of economic crisis - that all the Algerian people are not obliged to eat yogurt. No matter how much he denies, people are constantly reminding him of these words.

According to the prosecution, it must be heard on cases of squandering public funds and undue advantages. But no further details have been given at this stage. " We know that he was led to manage or make decisions on arbitrations favoring a number of oligarchs, in terms of either privatization of public companies or in the granting of credits of convenience . These are the two main charges against Ahmed Ouyahia. Unfortunately , this is not the subject matter , "said Djilali Hadjadj, spokesperson for the Algerian Anti-Corruption Association.

No probable continuation

According to the latter, " the former Prime Minister, who is extremely unpopular in the country, who is really rejected by people, I believe that he is sacrificed, but he is sacrificed without going very far because he can not not even be brought to justice because the Constitution provided a bit of what exists in France, a court of justice for ministers. This court of justice has never been set up in Algeria. But I think it would be a lot more to dismiss it and make people believe that even it can be dropped, nothing more. It will disappear completely from radar screens and justice will not have to decide in the near future. "

Yesterday it was the current Minister of Finance and former governor of the Central Bank who was summoned to the prosecutor's office in Algiers. Mohamed Loukal was also heard on cases of squandering public funds. He emerged free.

Free also Abdelghani Hamel, the former boss of the police, who was summoned yesterday by the court of Tipaza. This very close to Abdelaziz Bouteflika is suspected of illegal activities and trading in influence. According to the press, he is alleged to have been accused of illegally obtaining land in this region west of Algiers. Abdelghani Hamel is to be heard again soon as a witness on national television.

    On the same subject

    Algeria: Minister of Finance and Bouteflika's close friend heard by justice

    Algeria: Will the dismissals calm down the street this Friday?

    Corruption in Algeria: Justice is interested in a former Minister of Energy

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