Abu Djerra Soltani: Khalifa gave a lot to Algeria

Witness Abu Djerra Soltani, Algeria’s former work minister Monday defended Rafik Abdelmoumene Khalifa in a court in Blida. He said Khalifa Airways solved transport problems in Algeria and in some countries like France.

Judge: when did you hold the position of work minister?

Abu Djerra Soltani: It was between September 1999 and May 2001. What happened later does not concern me.

Judge: you said you were not informed of social security money deposited at Khalifa Bank.

Abu Djerra Soltani: I have been out the ministry since May 2001. The examining judge thought I was minister after that period. That was wrong. The ministry was renewed in June 2002.

Judge: you did not inspect the money as part of the annual budget?

Abu Djerra Soltani: social security funds are submitted to a special law. Sometimes, the minister is informed about pension funds when there is a problem.

Judge: should the funds achieve interests?

Abu Djerra Soltani: no, they should not. Social security funds are not lucrative. Contributions are clear.

Judge: if you were told about the deposited money, how would you have done?

Abu Djerra: I would have reacted. No one informed me. For instance, the fund decided to raise its personnel’s salary by 46 percent. When I heard that, I sent an official letter to the cabinet.