Algeria uses public power to recover money

Tens of notifications were sent to private enterprises, traders and businessmen as public enterprises and fiscal administration filed a lawsuit against them. The state wants to recover fines and debts money as oil price is decreasing and austerity policy is implemented.

Lawyers criticized fiscal administration for the way it uses to recover its money from private enterprises and businessmen.

Many of them told Echorouk on the phone that the law is violated as people are summoned by the National Gendarmerie departments. They describe this attitude as “terrifying citizens.”

According to lawyers, the law stipulates that notifications are as part of court bailiff’s mission.

Lawyer Zahia Mokhtari said her client is a businessman who was prosecuted and had to pay a 10,000 DZ fine and 1,900,000 DZ compensation. The sentences was banned but he was summoned by the National Gendarmerie.

International economist Malek Serrai believes that the fiscal administration’s attitude is “very dangerous” and may hit many commercial activities. “Many businessmen may go to operate abroad and hundreds of workers may be laid off because of that.”

“The fiscal administration wrote to some private sector chiefs and gave them a 10-day-deadline to pay their debts. Their enterprises would be closed for 6 months. This goes against democracy and social security. Most of time, the administration sympathizes with condemned people but used mechanisms and techniques were not satisfying,” he added.