15 Accused, 36 Witnesses And 9 Victims In “Tayeb Louh” Case

The referral decision issued by the Indictment Chamber of the Algerian Judicial Council related to the file of the former Minister of Justice Tayeb Louh included the names of 15 defendants and 36 witnesses, including ministers, businessmen and executives in the judiciary, which was adapted on the basis of a “felony” and was appealed by the accused at the Supreme Court level.

In exclusive details in the possession of “Echorouk”, and mentioned in the referral decision, the 15 accused in the case, namely, “Tayeb Louh”, the former Minister of Justice, as the main accused, was charged with the felony of incitement to forgery in official documents, misdemeanor misuse of the position, hindering the proper functioning of justice and inciting prejudice, which are the acts stipulated and punishable by Articles 41, 132, 215 of the Penal Code and Articles 33-44-48 of the Law on the Prevention and Combating of Corruption.

The former Secretary-General of the Ministry of Justice “L.Z” and the Inspector General of the Ministry of Justice, “B. T”, the Director of Civil Affairs and the State Seal of the Ministry of Justice, “B. H”, are also being pursued for the crime of incitement in the same temporal and spatial circumstances notably for forgery in official documents, misdemeanor abuse of office, incitement to prejudice, acts stipulated and punishable by Articles 41, 132, 215 of the Penal Code and Articles 33 to 48 of the Law on Prevention and Combating of Corruption.

The charges also included the misdemeanor of abuse of the position and incitement to prejudice, against the former head of the Judicial Council of Algeria, named “B.M”.

In the case of Tayed Louh, former Minister of Energy and Mines, Chakib Khalil, his wife Nadjat Arafat, and his two sons Sina and Khaldoun, against whom international arrest warrants were issued for participation in misdemeanor exploitation of employment, are also being pursued for the act stipulated and punishable by Article 42 of the Penal Code and Articles 33-52 of the Law on Prevention and fight of corruption.

Moreover, the brother and advisor to the former president, Said Bouteflika, and the businessman and former head of “FCE” Ali Haddad, their charges were adapted on the basis of “misdemeanor” participation in the exploitation of the position and participation in obstructing the good course of justice, and these the acts are stipulated and punishable by Articles 33-44. 01/52 of the Law on Prevention and fight of Corruption.

As for the accusation leveled against “B.M”, contractor from southern Ghardaia province, he’s being pursued for the felony of incitement to forgery in official documents, misdemeanor, insulting judges, as these the acts are stipulated and punishable by Articles 41-44-215 of the Penal Code.

On the other hand, the referral decision mentioned in the “Tayeb Louh” file also included 36 witnesses, notably the former Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui, the Secretary-General of the Presidency Habib Al-Okbi, as well as businessman Mahiedine Tahkout, along with a number of judges and representatives of the republic.