A Sports Association Receives Suspicious Funds From France. 

Security and judicial investigations have revealed the involvement of national associations in receiving donations and funds through suspicious means from foreign entities, without prior permission from the relevant authorities. This is punishable under the new law approved by Parliament in 2023, which pertains to the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorist financing.

In this context, the investigation conducted by the Judicial Investigation Department revealed that the “Athletic Club of Algiers” was among the associations that received funds from foreign entities without prior permission or license, a case that the judiciary will review this Wednesday, November 13.

In details in possession of “Echorouk,” the accused, members and founders of the “Athletic Club of Algiers,” will appear before the Hussein Dey Court on Wednesday on serious charges related to obtaining funds from foreign entities without the prior approval of the competent authorities, actions stipulated and punished under Articles 23 and 30 of the Law on Associations and Articles 4 and 8 of the Fundraising Law.

During the preliminary investigation with the accused “M. Dalia,” she stated that she met the French Deputy Consul in charge of cultural activities. Subsequently, she presented to him the “Algiers Athletic Club Association Project.” Since their association did not have official approval, they agreed with him to provide them with assistance, which was done through the account of the Sidi M’Hamed Club.
The association received an amount of 500 million centimes in 2021, and later received an amount of 900 million centimes in June 2022, provided by the French consulate. The amount was deposited into the account of a company named “M3,” owned by the accused’s mother, and not into their association’s account.
Dalia stated that she met the French Vice Consul in charge of cultural activities, and then presented to him the “Algiers Athletic Club Association Project.” Since their association did not have official approval, they agreed with him to provide them with assistance, which was done through the account of the Sidi M’Hamed Club.
The association received 500 million centimes in 2021, and later received 900 million centimes in June 2022, provided by the French consulate. The amount was deposited into the account of a company named “M3,” owned by the accused’s mother, and not into their association’s account.

And after hearing the accused “N.Zain al-Din stated that after the resignation of the accused “M. “Dalia” from the club, in his capacity as the treasurer of the association, received in 2023 an amount of 600,000 centimes and an amount of 9,000,000 centimes provided by the French consulate, and the amounts were deposited into their association’s account.

The accused “Zinedine” also confessed that the accused “M. Dalia” contacted the French Vice Consul in Algeria, named “LAURANT,” via the club’s email. She made a business deal in the name of the sports club “Athletic Club of Algiers” during the Mediterranean Games held in Oran. Dalia received an amount of approximately 900 million centimes through her mother’s agency’s bank account, confirming that he was unaware that this money had entered her mother’s agency’s account until after participating in the Oran event.
It was also explained to the investigating judge that when he asked the accused why she exploited the name of the sports club “Athletic Club of Algiers” and took the amount of money for the agency, she told him that she was the one who made the deal and justified it by saying that she would pay their fees for the Mediterranean Games event.

For her part, the accused “M. Dalia” confirmed during her interrogation by the investigating judge that she was among the founders of the “Athletic Club of Algiers” basketball club as a volunteer, and she was appointed as a member of the association until August 14, 2022. She was responsible for media and communication, as well as being a coach for the boys’ and girls’ junior teams, and was in charge of purchasing sports equipment and various supplies. Dalia, during her interrogation by the investigating judge, stated that she was among the founders of the “Athletic Club of Algiers” basketball team as a volunteer.
She was appointed as a member of the association until August 14, 2022, and was responsible for media and communication. She was also a basketball coach for the junior boys’ and girls’ teams and was in charge of purchasing sports equipment and various supplies.

The accused added in her statements that on February 15, 2020, while she was at the Ben Aknoun Stadium in Algeria during a World Fencing Championship match, she met the former Minister of Youth and Sports, “R.”Bernawi,” and there, the French Deputy Consul in Algeria, “LAURANT,” was present, where they exchanged conversation for about 20 minutes. He asked her about the activity she was engaged in before leaving the place, handing her a business card with his name, surname, and personal phone number.

In 2021, the accused claims that the former minister himself called her, informing her that the person named LAURANT wanted to speak with her. She agreed to the matter, and after about two days, she called him and he asked her to present the project for the sports club “Athletic Club of Algiers” basketball team. She accepted the offer and indeed received the funds as donations to help the club with equipment and clothing.