Algeria: new two-year conviction for Saïd Bouteflika

Said Bouteflika was seen as the real power behind the throne in Algeria after his brother, late president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, had a stroke in 2013 Farouk Batiche AFP / File

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In Algeria, the official APS news agency indicated that Saïd Bouteflika, younger brother of the late President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, was sentenced by an Algiers court to two years in prison for having impeded "the proper conduct of justice" .

The prosecution had requested against him seven years in prison for "inciting falsification of official documents" and "abuse of office".

In the same case, justice is prosecuting several other officials of the old regime in Algeria.

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Saïd Bouteflika, former influential adviser to his brother president, has already been in prison since May 2019, when he was arrested along with three co-defendants and sentenced to fifteen years in prison.

It was during a flash trial in a military court for "conspiracy against the army".

The army, at that time, had stopped supporting Abdelaziz Bouteflika to get out of the crisis born of Hirak, the popular protest movement against a fifth term of the sick president.

Saïd Bouteflika did not appear alone

In January 2021, a military appeal court acquitted Saïd Bouteflika.

But it was already cited in other cases under investigation.

Under a warrant of committal for “influence peddling”, he was then transferred to a civilian prison.

Saïd Bouteflika did not appear alone before the Algiers court.

Tayeb Lauh, the former Minister of Justice, the main accused in this case, was sentenced to six years in prison, while Ali Haddad, the former boss of the employers, was sentenced to two years, as was the former Inspector General of the Ministry of Justice.

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  • Algeria

  • Abdelaziz Bouteflika

  • Justice