4 years in prison sought in 5,000 out-of-date security equipment deal in Algeria

A Public prosecutor at a court in Algiers sought Wednesday a four-year-sentence against a former official at the National Security Department, a retired police commissioner and two representatives of French companies for squandering public money.

• The two security officials are accused of signing a deal to buy 5,000 out of date telecommunication equipments for police stations through the country.
• In 1998, the National Security Department started a modernisation process at its telecommunication equipments through the country. The manager of the Technical Means of the National Security signed a contract with two French companies to buy equipments at 7 billion centimes. The equipments were brought from Thailand.
• The judicial file shows that the main suspect purchased many sim cards which were supposed to be sent to the national security staff.
• He gave them to the suspects’ relatives who are also accused of setting up telephone antenna on the roof of the security department with no licence.
• The department lodged a complaint in 2006 after the public treasury controller had doubts about the huge sums of the deal.
• The investigation showed that the equipments were out of date but the suspects denied the allegations the court launched against them.
• The technical means manager said the French companies’ offer was the best and all the equipments were sent to the right people.