Algeria's two former prime ministers, Ahmed Ouyahia and Abdelmalek Sellal, have denied accusations of corruption and abuse of jobs during their trial yesterday in the case of car assembly plants. The first trial of the ousted President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's regime began yesterday in the Sidi M'hamed court, in the case of car assembly plants, which is being followed by 14 defendants, including former ministers and a number of businessmen.
"What the government is doing today is the same as what we were doing," Ouyahia said, denying that he had granted undue privileges to others, and Ouyahia denied the charges of bribery and conflicts of interest.
Ouyahia also revealed that the US authorities intervened at the Algerian Embassy in Washington to enable Ford to obtain a car assembly license in Algeria and that an extraordinary license was granted to this company after consulting with President Bouteflika.
He said he aimed to create jobs and create wealth outside the hydrocarbons sector.
Abdelmalek Salal, a former industry minister, Abdel Salam Bouchouarib, who escaped from the judiciary, blamed the preparation of the book of conditions for car assembly plants, admitting that he had no authority over the minister.
Selal denied the charge of abusing the job and that he did not help his son Faris, a prisoner accused in the same case of obtaining undeserved benefits by owning 23% of the shares of a businessman Ahmed Mazouz. Basal denied that the campaign money was rigged by former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who had planned to run for a fifth term.
After hearing Ouyahia and Sallal's statements, the hearing was adjourned, resuming by hearing the statements of former Minister of Industry Yusuf Yousfi, the defendant in the same case.
On the other hand, a news report said that the presidency in Algeria summoned yesterday, Interior Minister Salaheddine Dahmoun, to inquire about the very offensive statements made against opponents of the presidential elections scheduled for the 12th of this month. Al-Bilad TV quoted unnamed sources as saying that the presidency summoned Dahman to seek clarification from him about the shocking words he used to comment on the positions of opponents of the presidential elections. The same source confirmed that the retention of Dahmon his position in the government or not yet decided. Dahmoun had criticized during a session of the National Assembly, strongly what he described as «semi-Algerians who support and incite international intervention in Algeria». He also went on to label some of them as “gay” and “gay”, sparking widespread outcry on social media.