Algeria: influential businesswoman "Madame Maya" sentenced for corruption

An Algiers court sentenced "Madame Maya" to 12 years in prison.

RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

Known as "Madame Maya", this businesswoman was posing as the hidden daughter of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

An Algiers court sentenced her to 12 years in prison, a fine and the seizure of her property for money laundering, influence peddling, squandering of public funds and illicit transfer of foreign currency abroad.

Publicity

Read more

“Madame Maya”, whose real name is Zoulikha Nachinache, has been a very influential woman in Algeria for many years.

An influence due to a rumor that she is the daughter of Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

During her trial, the accused rather evokes a “

fusional

 ”

friendship 

between her father, now deceased, and the former head of state and admits having obtained advantages for her investment projects through him.

The local media attribute a very large fortune to him.

In July 2019, three months after

the resignation of Abdelaziz Bouteflika

, chased by the street, a search was carried out at Madame Maya's home in a state residence in the upscale suburb of Algiers.

The equivalent of 800,000 euros in dinars, as well as 270,000 euros, 30,000 dollars and 17 kilos of gold jewelry are then seized.

His conviction extends the long list of personalities imprisoned for corruption since the departure of the former president a year and a half ago.

In addition to his two daughters, three personalities are convicted in the same trial: two former ministers, and the former and powerful boss of the police.

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • Algeria

  • Justice

On the same subject

Algeria: the murder of a young woman revives the mobilization on feminicides

Algeria: lawyers from the Algiers bar on strike for independent justice