Algeria National Assembly drops question on Khelil’s case

The office of People’s National Assembly did not integrate the question of deputy Lakhdar Benkhelaf, member of the Justice and Development Front to justice minister about an international arrest warrant for former energy minister Chakib Khelil.

The Assembly said the question is not in conformity with provisions related to oral and written questions because it is a case handled by judicial authorities.

Benkhelaf believes that there is no political will to eradicate corruption phenomenon, saying his question was about formal aspect of judicial procedures to correct a mistake in the arrest warrant.

“Usually, State’s officials like ministers and prefects are prosecuted by the Supreme Court and not tribunals. This mistake will not help to make progress in the case. A few months ago, a total of 65 deputies from 24 political compositions have already suggested an initiative to open corruption case but it was rejected by the Assembly,” he told Echorouk on Thursday.

Benkhelaf submitted a written question to the Assembly asking the justice minister to correct judicial procedures about Khelil’s corruption case.

According to the deputy, the procedures were wrong. Because of that, the Interpol is not serious in dealing with the case as the warrant was issued by the court of Algiers which has nothing to do with it.

Sources say former justice minister Mohamed Chorfi was dismissed because of that procedure error while Benkhelaf criticized the Algerian justice for following requests from foreign justice. “This is overseas justice,” he said.